Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu announced the successful commissioning of Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited’s Residue Upgradation Facility at Visakhapatnam Refinery. This upgrade is part of the Visakh Refinery Modernisation Project and includes the installation of three of the heaviest reactors globally. The Chief Minister highlighted that this enhancement will cater to regional fuel demands and enhance socio-economic development.
The Chief Minister expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his strategic efforts in fortifying Visakh Refinery to ensure the country’s energy security. This development positions the East Coast as a top-tier refining center, according to Chief Minister Naidu. Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri also praised the milestone achievement in India’s energy security journey with the commissioning of HPCL’s Residue Upgradation Facility at Visakh Refinery.
Hardeep Singh Puri emphasized the significance of this infrastructure in Andhra Pradesh as a significant step towards Atmanirbhar Bharat under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi and Chief Minister Naidu. The Residue Upgradation Facility houses three LC-Max reactors, each weighing around 2,200 MT, making them among the heaviest globally. With a capacity of 3.55 MMTPA, the facility utilizes advanced technology to convert bottom of the barrel oils into high-value products efficiently, contributing to the nation’s energy requirements.
Visakh Refinery, initially commissioned by Caltex Oil Refining India in 1956 with an installed capacity of 0.675 million tonnes per annum, is the oldest refinery on the eastern coast. Since 1978, it has been under the ownership and operation of Hindustan Petroleum.
