India’s First Oil Refinery: Digboi—Where the Oil Era Began (1901) India’s oil journey began in 1901 with the establishment of the Digboi Refinery in Digboi, Assam. Built during British rule, this historic refinery marked the birth of India’s petroleum industry. From dense jungles to industrial innovation, Digboi became Asia’s one of the earliest oil refining centers, shaping India’s energy future and economic growth. [first oil refinery in india, digboi refinery, india oil history, petroleum ind

WATCH: Saudi Arabia's state oil giant Aramco shut its Ras Tanura refinery after it was hit by a drone, an industry source said on Monday March 2, 2026, an apparent escalation on the third day of strikes across the region launched by Tehran in response to the U.S.-Israeli attack on Iran. An eyewitness video shared from Ras Tanura showed heavy smoke billowing from the refinery, covering the industrl complex. Reuters confirmed the location as Ras Tanura refinery from the Horton spheres, other struc

The connection between Venezuelan oil and US refineries is a classic example of "industrial lock-in." It is a relationship built on decades of specialized engineering that makes them physically dependent on each other, despite political friction. ​Here is the breakdown of why this "thick" oil is so important to the US. ​Venezuelan oil, particularly from the Orinoco Belt, is some of the densest in the world. In the industry, it is often called "extra-heavy sour" crude. It is thick like molasses o