Bhubaneswar: A massive fire broke out at the refinery complex in Pachpadra, Balotra, just 24 hours before Prime Minister Narendra Modi was scheduled to inaugurate the facility, sending thick black smoke billowing into the sky.
Following the incident, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas announced that the planned dedication ceremony has been postponed. Officials confirmed that the fire has been brought under control and no casualties have been reported. An investigation has been initiated to determine the cause of the blaze and to implement necessary corrective measures.
The refinery, located in Pachpadra in Rajasthan, is India’s first greenfield integrated Refinery-cum-Petrochemical Complex. It is a joint venture between Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) and the state government.
The foundation stone for the project was laid on September 22, 2013, by Sonia Gandhi during the tenure of the Ashok Gehlot-led government, with an initial estimated cost of ₹37,230 crore. The project was later relaunched by PM Modi on January 16, 2018, with a revised cost of ₹43,129 crore.
Once operational, the refinery is expected to significantly boost India’s energy security by reducing dependence on imports and enhancing domestic production. In addition to fuel output, the complex will generate key petrochemical products such as polypropylene, polyethylene (HDPE/LLDPE), benzene, toluene, and butadiene.
These downstream products are expected to support a wide range of industries, including plastics, automotive components, packaging, textiles, medical equipment, and chemicals like paints and detergents. The integrated ecosystem is projected to strengthen Rajasthan’s position as a growing hub for value-added manufacturing at both national and global levels.
-OdishaAge
