A fire broke out at the Pachpadra refinery in Rajasthan’s Balotra district on Monday, a day before its scheduled inauguration by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Fire tenders were rushed to the site and efforts were underway to control the blaze. There were no immediate reports of any casualties. Initial reports indicated that the fire started in the crude distillation unit (CDU) section of the refinery, reports PTI.
The incident caused some disruption inside the premises, where preparations were ongoing for Tuesday’s high-profile inauguration. Emergency response teams moved in to contain the situation, raising concerns about safety arrangements at the site.
The refinery is set to be inaugurated on Tuesday as India’s first greenfield integrated refinery-cum-petrochemical complex, built at a cost of over Rs 79,450 crore. PM Modi will visit Rajasthan on Tuesday to inaugurate India’s first greenfield integrated refinery-cum-petrochemical complex at Pachpadra in Balotra.
The project, built at a cost of over Rs 79,450 crore, is seen as a major step in strengthening the country’s energy and petrochemical sectors, according to an official statement, according to the PTI report.
Preparations are underway for the visit, during which the prime minister will also address a public gathering. A large turnout is expected. Security has been tightened at the site, with senior police officers and thousands of personnel deployed to ensure smooth conduct of the event.
The complex integrates refining and petrochemical production, with a petrochemical capacity of 2.4 MMTPA. It has a Nelson Complexity Index of 17.0 and petrochemical yields of more than 26 per cent, in line with global standards.
Officials said the project is expected to boost energy security, reduce import dependence in the petrochemical sector and support industrial growth.
The refinery is also expected to anchor the development of a petrochemical and plastic park in the region, promoting downstream industries and creating employment opportunities.
Modi will also flag off LPG tankers from the refinery during his visit.
The 9 MMTPA refinery-cum-petrochemical complex has been developed as a joint venture between Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) and the Rajasthan government under HPCL Rajasthan Refinery Limited (HRRL).
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