India needs 600 MMT refinery capacity by 2040
BHUBANESWAR: India needs investment to the tune of 300 billion dollars in the next 10 years to double its oil refining capacity, Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said today. "Oil refining capacity in the country stands at over 247 million ton at present and demand for petro products, which is rising rapidly, will touch 600 million ton by the year 2040," Pradhan said.
Noting that the country has built a robust refining and petrochemicals sector over the years, the minister said several brownfield projects are already in the pipeline for creating capacities of around 142 million tons.
Pradhan said two major greenfield projects are all set to be launched to add 69 million ton of new refining capacities soon. The Barmer Refinery in Rajasthan will be of 9 mtpa, while the West Coast Refinery and Petrochemicals will create 60 million ton capacity. To achieve the target of 600 million ton capacity, it is necessary to add over 20 million ton almost every year, he said.
Emphasizing the need for a state-of-the-art refining and petrochemical industry, he said it is necessary to concentrate on research and development in the public sector.
(reporting by The Economic Times)
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