PM Modi Hails HPCL’s Residue Upgradation Facility at Visakh Refinery, Calls It a Boost to Energy Security
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New Delhi [India], January 6 :
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday praised Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) for commissioning its Residue Upgradation Facility (RUF) at the Visakh Refinery in Andhra Pradesh. He said the project would significantly strengthen India’s energy security and support the goal of Aatmanirbhar Bharat.
PM Modi Highlights Energy Self-Reliance
In a post on X, Prime Minister Modi described the facility as state-of-the-art. He said it adds momentum to India’s efforts to become self-reliant in the energy sector.
“This state-of-the-art facility boosts our energy security and strengthens our resolve to become Aatmanirbhar,” the Prime Minister said.
Major Boost to Refining Capacity
HPCL’s commissioning of the Residue Upgradation Facility marks a major milestone in India’s refining capabilities. The project has increased the Visakh Refinery’s processing capacity from 8.33 million tonnes per annum to 15 million tonnes per annum.
The expansion involved an investment of ₹31,407 crore.
Indigenous Engineering Achievement
Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri also praised the project. He said the facility reflects a decisive step towards Aatmanirbhar Bharat under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu.
The minister described the facility as a masterpiece of indigenous engineering. It houses three LC-Max reactors, each weighing 2,200 metric tonnes, making them among the heaviest engineering blocks in the world. Engineers fabricated and assembled all components within India.
Advanced Technology and High Conversion
The Residue Upgradation Facility has a capacity of 3.55 MMTPA. It uses advanced residue hydrocracking technology. The facility converts nearly 93 per cent of bottom-of-the-barrel oils into high-value products. This process ensures maximum utilisation of every barrel of crude oil.
Strengthening Eastern India’s Energy Hub
The expansion has transformed Andhra Pradesh into a major energy hub on India’s east coast. It will help meet fuel demand across Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, West Bengal, and Karnataka.
Focus on Sustainable Aviation Fuel
HPCL recently inaugurated a demonstration plant at the Visakh Refinery for Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) production. The plant uses Used Cooking Oil (UCO) through co-processing in the refinery’s hydrocracker unit.
As per HPCL’s roadmap, the refinery will begin producing 10 TMT of SAF annually from January 2027, subject to certification. The initiative supports India’s commitment to decarbonising aviation and promoting a circular waste-to-wealth economy.
India aims to achieve 1 per cent SAF blending by 2027, 2 per cent by 2028, and 5 per cent by 2030.
Reducing Import Dependence
India currently imports about 80 per cent of its crude oil requirements. The government has taken multiple steps to boost domestic production and diversify import sources. India now imports oil and gas from nearly 40 countries to meet its growing energy demand.
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