New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurates the HPCL Rajasthan Refinery Limited (HRRL) at Pachpadra, Balotra district Saturday, commissioning India’s first greenfield refinery in a decade. The refinery cost Rs 79,459 crore, expected to boost refining and petrochemical production while also supporting the country’s plans to expand its refining capacity.
The project is a joint venture between Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) and the Rajasthan Government, with HPCL holding a 74 percent stake and the State government holding the remaining 26 percent.The PM was originally scheduled to inaugurate the refinery in April. But the event was postponed at the eleventh hour after a fire broke out on 20 April in the crude distillation unit (CDU). In this primary unit, crude oil is heated and separated into different petroleum products.
It is India’s first greenfield refinery to be commissioned in nearly a decade after Indian Oil Corporation Limited’s (IOCL) Paradip refinery in Odisha which became operational in 2016.The inauguration comes as India looks to expand its refining footprint, increase petrochemical production and strengthen its position as a global refining hub.HRRL has a refining capacity of 9 million metric tonnes per annum (MMTPA) and an integrated petrochemical capacity of 2.4 MMTPA. Located close to Rajasthan’s Barmer oil fields, it is expected to reduce crude transportation costs while also boosting domestic production of petrochemicals.It can also produce motor spirit (petrol), high-speed diesel, polypropylene, high-density polyethene (HDPE), butadiene, benzene and toluene, helping the refinery to reduce India’s dependence on imports of several petrochemical products.The refinery incorporates modern technology and has been assigned a Nelson Complexity Index (NCI) of 17, well above the global average of 8-10. The index measures the refinery’s sophistication and its ability to process heavier crude into higher-value petroleum products.According to the petroleum ministry, the refinery commenced commercial operations on 22 June, and petrol, diesel and petroleum coke have already been invoiced.
