Union Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan has said that oil PSUs namely Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL), Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) have decided to set up an integrated refinery-cum-petrochemical complex with a refining capacity of 60 MMTPA (million metric tonnes per annum) at Babulwadi, Taluka Rajapur in Ratnagiri district in the state of Maharashtra with an estimated investment of Rs. 3 lakh crore. A Joint Venture (JV) Company, ‘Ratnigiri Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited (RRPCL)’ has been formed to execute the project. Global Oil and Gas majors, Saudi Aramco & ADNOC have also partnered with the JV Company.
In a written reply in Lok Sabha today, the Minister said that the proposed refinery site has been identified by Oil PSUs in consultation with Government of Maharashtra. IOCL has informed that the land is mostly barren, rocky and undulating and outside eco-sensitive area. Mango trees and agricultural cultivation are present in small pockets. Government of Maharashtra vide Gazette Notification on 18.05.2017 has declared the said site as an industrial area under MIDC Act, 1961.
IOCL has reported that there is some opposition to the project due to concerns relating to the effect on environment. However, as per IOCL, the impact of the refinery operations on the agricultural crops of the region would not be very high. The refinery would meet the stringent environmental standards followed worldwide.
RRPCL has initiated awareness campaign through print and electronic media as well as door to door campaign to impress upon the local population about the benefits of the project as well as to dispel misconception about adverse environment impact by setting up the refinery. At this stage, there is no proposal to consider/revisit the decision for setting up of Refinery cum Petrochemical Complex at Rajapur in Ratnigiri District.
