Commercial production at the oil refinery in Pachpadra of Rajasthan’s Barmer district is said to begin by December 2024, with approval given for payment of ₹2,583 crore towards the State government’s 26% stake in the incremental share capital for the project. This is expected to speed up the refinery work and ensure timely completion.
A target has been set to complete the ₹72,937-crore project’s mechanical work by May 2024, while about 80% of the construction work of the refinery units was completed till last month at an expenditure of ₹30,000 crore. More than 25,000 people would be getting employment at the project site.
The ambitious 9 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) oil refinery project was caught in a political quagmire after its foundation stone was laid by United Progressive Alliance chairperson Sonia Gandhi in 2013 and the BJP government in the State put it on hold to renegotiate terms with Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL).
