New Delhi, 08 April (H.S.):

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved a significant escalation in project costs and equity investment for the HPCL Rajasthan Refinery Limited (HRRL) in Pachpadra, Balotra district, Rajasthan. The refinery's cost rises from ₹43,129 crore to ₹79,459 crore, with Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) injecting an additional ₹8,962 crore in equity, bringing its total stake to ₹19,600 crore.

A joint venture between HPCL (74% equity) and the Government of Rajasthan (26%), the 9 MMTPA greenfield refinery-cum-petrochemical complex targets commercial operations by July 1, 2026 (SCOD).

This high-complexity facility boasts over 26% petrochemical output, including 1 MMTPA petrol, 4 MMTPA diesel, 1 MMTPA polypropylene, 0.5 MMTPA each of LLDPE and HDPE, and 0.4 MMTPA benzene, toluene, and butadiene. These products support transportation, pharmaceuticals, paints, and packaging, curbing petrochemical imports, bolstering energy security, and utilizing local Mangala crude.

The project catalyzes industrialization in a backward region, positioning India as a refining hub. During construction, it generated ~25,000 jobs via stakeholder contracts.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar