Biecco Lawrie
| Company type | Public sector undertaking |
|---|---|
| Industry | Petroleum, electrical manufacturing |
| Predecessor | British India Electric Construction Company Limited |
| Founded | 1919 |
| Defunct | 2018 |
| Fate | Closure sanctioned by Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs |
| Headquarters | Kolkata , India |
Area served | India |
| Products | Switchgears, lubricating oils, kerosene, paraffin wax, bitumen, furnace oil, military supplies (historically) |
| Owner | Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Government of India; Oil Industry Development Board (OIDB) |
| Parent | Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Government of India |
Biecco Lawrie Co. Limited (BLL) was an Indian public sector undertaking under the ownership of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Government of India, with its headquarters located in Kolkata. The company was originally established in 1919 as British India Electric Construction Company Limited.
History
Founded in 1919 in Calcutta, British India as the British India Electric Construction Company (BIECCO), the enterprise initially specialized in manufacturing machinery for tea garden operations. During World War II, it expanded its production to include military supplies such as shell cases, food containers, and camouflage kits. By 1932, the company had diversified into producing cost-effective fans for general consumers.
Service
BLL comprised four principal divisions: switchgear production, electrical maintenance, project execution, and blending and filling of lubricating oils. Its lubricating oil blending facility boasted an annual capacity of 12,000 kilolitres. The company was also engaged in manufacturing switchgears, executing minor power distribution initiatives, and distributing products like kerosene, paraffin wax, bitumen, and furnace oil. Furthermore, it operated divisions dedicated to turnkey projects and electrical repairs.
In the fiscal year 2007, BLL reported total revenues amounting to .
Shut down
Over a ten-year period, the company incurred losses totaling ₹153.95 crore and recorded a net worth deficit of ₹78.88 crore by the conclusion of FY 2017–18. On 10 October 2018, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) sanctioned the closure of Biecco Lawrie. Employees were provided with options for Voluntary Retirement/Separation Schemes (VRS/VSS). Despite efforts by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas to revive operations through potential sales, oil sector companies declined acquisition offers. Ownership was distributed with the Oil Industry Development Board (OIDB) holding 67.33%, the government possessing 32.33%, and other shareholders accounting for 0.44%.