A massive fire broke out at India’s first greenfield integrated refinery-petrochemical complex on Monday, April 20, at Pachpadra in Rajasthan’s Balotra district. There were no immediate reports of casualties.
Several images and videos of the fire at the refinery and petrochemical complex showed black smoke billowing from the area. Several fire tenders were also seen entering the complex to douse the fire.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was scheduled to visit Rajasthan on Tuesday, April 21 and inaugurate a refinery-petrochemical complex at Pachpadra in Balotra.
There has been no official word on the cancellation of the inauguration.
About the project
The green field refinery project was built with an investment of more than ₹79,450 crore, marking a major milestone in India’s power and petrochemical sector, an official statement said.
PM Modi was to inaugurate and also address a rally in Pachpadra. All security measures were taken for the event. Arrangements have been made to deploy senior police officers and personnel to ensure the smooth conduct of the inauguration by the Prime Minister.
The inauguration and public meeting is expected to draw a large crowd.
Refinery
It is a joint venture between Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) and the Government of Rajasthan. The HPCL Rajasthan Refinery Limited (HRRL) complex will produce petrol and diesel along with a range of petrochemical products such as polypropylene, linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE), high density polyethylene (HDPE), benzene, toluene and butadiene.
Spread over approximately 4,400 acres, the state-of-the-art complex integrates refining and petrochemical production with a petrochemical capacity of 2.4 MMTPA. It has a high Nelson Complexity Index of 17.0 and petrochemical yields in excess of 26%, in line with global benchmarks for efficiency and sustainability, and is expected to play a key role in strengthening India’s energy security, increasing petrochemical self-sufficiency and driving industrial growth.
It will also build a petrochemical and plastics park in the region to support downstream and ancillary industries, the statement said. The refinery is also poised to create significant job opportunities that will contribute to the socio-economic development of the region.
Thanks to this project, the dependence on imports will be reduced and it will also create employment for young people.
Regarding the security arrangements at the site, Inspector General of Police (Jodhpur Range) Satyendra Singh said that elaborate arrangements are in place for the Prime Minister’s visit, including the deployment of three Deputy Inspector Generals (DIGs), 12 Superintendents of Police (SPs) and around 5,000 police personnel.
He said more than 100 CCTV cameras have been installed in and around the site to monitor activities.
