BPCL’s ₹96,862 crore greenfield refinery and petrochemical complex near Ramayapatnam in Nellore gets environmental clearance, boosting AP’s energy sector.
Nellore: The Centre has cleared the way for a major investment in Andhra Pradesh’s energy and petrochemical sector, with the Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) greenfield refinery and petrochemical complex near Ramayapatnam in Sri Potti Sriramulu Nellore district receiving environmental clearance.
The project, estimated to cost around ₹96,862 crore, is planned as a large integrated refining and petrochemical facility aimed at strengthening India’s domestic energy and manufacturing capabilities.
The proposed refinery is expected to have an annual processing capacity of 9 million to 12 million tonnes. Union Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilizers Anupriya Patel had earlier stated that the project was being developed with this capacity range.
The refinery and petrochemical complex is being developed with an investment of nearly ₹1 lakh crore, with the company targeting completion by financial year 2030.
The Andhra Pradesh government has already earmarked around 6,000 acres for the project. Preliminary activities associated with the proposed facility are understood to be underway.
BPCL has said the project will contribute to India's long-term energy security and supply stability, while reducing dependence on imports of refined fuels and petrochemical products.
One of the key components of the proposed complex will be a 1.5 million-tonne-per-annum ethylene cracker unit.
The facility is expected to become the first project of this scale in South India and will form an important part of the petrochemical complex.
The cracker unit is expected to support the production of a range of petrochemical products and create opportunities for downstream industries. The project is also likely to generate substantial direct and indirect employment during both the construction and operational phases.
The integrated nature of the project is expected to create an industrial ecosystem around the refinery, with potential opportunities for chemical, plastics, manufacturing and other downstream industries.
BPCL has also entered into memoranda of understanding with Numaligarh Refinery Limited (NRL) and Fertilizers and Chemicals Travancore Limited (FACT) for other proposed projects.
The Ramayapatnam project is expected to add further momentum to Andhra Pradesh’s efforts to attract large-scale industrial investments and develop the State as an important energy and manufacturing hub along the eastern coast.
With environmental clearance now in place, the project can move forward with the next stages of development, bringing one of the country’s largest proposed investments in the refinery and petrochemical sector closer to implementation.
