Union Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas and Tourism, Suresh Gopi, conducted a review of Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited’s (HPCL) Visakh Refinery during an official visit on Tuesday. The Minister evaluated key operational activities and engaged with refinery officials regarding ongoing strategic initiatives.During his tour, the Minister commended the successful implementation of the Visakh Refinery Modernisation Project (VRMP). He specifically lauded the commissioning of the state-of-the-art Residue Upgradation Facility (RUF), describing it as a major milestone that significantly enhances India’s deep-conversion refining capabilities and bolsters national energy security.The 3.55 MMTPA capacity RUF utilises advanced LC-Max based residue hydrocracking technology. This sophisticated process allows the refinery to convert low-value bottom oils into high-value petroleum products, maximising efficiency and output.As part of his itinerary, the Minister also visited the Single Point Mooring (SPM) facility situated within the Visakhapatnam Port Authority area. He interacted with onsite officials to review the facility’s overall operational preparedness and daily functioning. Published - May 26, 2026 11:25 pm IST