The HPCL-Mittal Energy joint venture has started processing crude oil at its Rs160bn ($3.4bn) Guru Gobind Singh refinery in Punjab, India.

The joint venture received the first consignment of crude oil through the Mundra-Bathinda pipeline in August.

The refinery, which will process the crude oil on a trial basis, is expected to be fully operational within the next four months.

Oil will be processed to separate solid and liquid products, including high-value petroleum products such as LPG, aviation fuel, pet coke, naphtha, petrol and diesel, according to The Times of India.