India Launches First Greenfield Refinery-Cum-Petrochemical Complex

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated India’s first greenfield integrated refinery-cum-petrochemical complex at Pachpadra in Balotra district, Rajasthan, on 4 July 2026. The project is a joint venture between Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited and the Government of Rajasthan, with equity shares of 74% and 26% respectively.

Project Profile

The Pachpadra complex has been developed with an investment of more than ₹79,450 crore. The refinery has a refining capacity of 9 Million Metric Tonnes Per Annum and a petrochemical production capacity of 2.4 Million Metric Tonnes Per Annum. A greenfield project is a new industrial facility built on undeveloped land.

Refinery and Petrochemical Capacity

The complex includes a crude oil refinery and petrochemical units in one integrated industrial site. The petrochemical output is linked to downstream industries such as plastics, polymers, and chemical processing. The project is planned as an anchor for a Petrochemical and Plastic Park in the region.

Operational Features

The inauguration was earlier planned for 21 April 2026 and was postponed after a fire in the Crude Distillation Unit on 20 April 2026. The Crude Distillation Unit has since been made operational again. Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited has planned the start of petrochemical units in the fourth quarter of 2026, with some capacity expected to become operational by November or December 2026.

Important Facts for Exams

• Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited is a Maharatna public sector undertaking under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.
• Rajasthan has no coastal refinery and depends on inland petroleum infrastructure for fuel processing.
• MMTPA stands for Million Metric Tonnes Per Annum and is used to measure refinery capacity.
• Crude Distillation Unit is the primary unit in a refinery for separating crude oil into fractions.

Related Development Projects

During the same visit, development projects worth about ₹1.06 lakh crore were inaugurated or launched in Rajasthan. These included a new terminal building at Jodhpur Airport and Jaipur Metro Phase 2.