Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Inaugurate 9-MMTPA HPCL-Rajasthan Refinery on April 21

HPCL-Rajasthan Refinery Set to Redefine Economy of Western Rajasthan

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to inaugurate the HPCL-Rajasthan refinery at Pachpadra on April 21, marking the culmination of a project that has been in the making for over a decade. The 9 MMTPA project, which has seen its cost more than double to around Rs 80,000 crore, is expected to emerge as one of the country's largest integrated refinery-cum-petrochemical complexes.

The inauguration comes at a time when geopolitical tensions in West Asia have raised concerns over global petroleum and gas supplies. The refinery is a joint venture between Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd and the Government of Rajasthan, with a stake of 74 per cent and 26 per cent, respectively.

The Greenfield Refinery-cum-Petrochemical Complex has a capacity of 9 million metric tonnes per annum (MMTPA), including 2.4 MMTPA of petrochemical products. The project was initiated during the Ashok Gehlot-led Congress government in Rajasthan in 2008-13, after major oil discoveries in the desert region.

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The project was conceptualised and approved under the Congress government and the UPA regime at the Centre. Then UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi laid the foundation stone of the refinery at Pachpadra on September 22, 2013. However, after the BJP government led by Vasundhara Raje came to power in Rajasthan in December 2013, the project slowed down.

The new government reviewed the agreement and renegotiated the terms with HPCL, signing a revised MoU in 2017. The Centre then approved the revised refinery project at a cost of Rs 43,129 crore. Prime Minister Narendra Modi formally launched the commencement of work at Pachpadra in January 2018.

The refinery will process crude oil produced in Rajasthan as well as imported Arab Mix crude. It will produce BS-VI grade petrol and diesel along with petrochemical products such as polypropylene, butadiene, LLDPE, HDPE, benzene and toluene. The refinery is expected to drive the development of various industries in western parts of the state, including construction, transportation, fabrication, machining, hospitality, heavy equipment supply and service.

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The project will have a significant impact on the economy of western Rajasthan and the entire state. Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma has said that the refinery will play a key role in boosting the economy of the Marwar region and create new employment opportunities for the youth.