Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inagurate India’s first greenfield integrated refinery-cum-petrochemical complex at Pachpadra in Rajasthan’s Balotra on Tuesday (April 21), marking a major addition to the country’s energy and industrial infrastructure. 

According to an official statement, developed as a joint venture between Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd. (HPCL) and the Rajasthan government, the 9 million metric tonnes per annum (MMTPA) facility has been built with an investment of over ₹79,450 crore. 

The project represents a significant milestone in India’s energy and petrochemical sector and is designed to integrate refining and petrochemical production within a single complex. The facility has a petrochemical capacity of 2.4 MMTPA. 

The refinery is equipped with a high Nelson Complexity Index of 17.0, indicating its ability to process a wide range of crude oils into high-value products. Petrochemical yields are expected to exceed 26%, “aligning with global benchmarks for efficiency and sustainability,” the statement said. 

Strengthening India’s energy security 

The government highlighted that the project “will play a pivotal role in strengthening India’s energy security and enhancing petrochemical self-sufficiency,” at a time when the country continues to rely on imports for key feedstocks. 

Beyond refining, the complex is expected to act as an anchor for a proposed petrochemical and plastic park in the region. This is likely to encourage downstream industries and ancillary units, creating a broader industrial ecosystem in western Rajasthan. 

Officials also noted that the project is “poised to generate significant employment opportunities,” contributing to local economic development and supporting small and medium enterprises linked to the petrochemical value chain. 

Refinery is expected to benefit 90,000 people 

The refinery, beyond its own output and large employment potential—expected to benefit around 90,000 people—is likely to drive the growth of ancillary industries such as pharmaceuticals, paints, packaging, and transport. It is also set to support a range of allied trade and business activities, creating job opportunities across several districts of western Rajasthan. 

The inauguration comes as India looks to expand domestic refining capacity and increase value-added petrochemical production, reducing dependence on imports while meeting rising demand from sectors such as packaging, automotive, and construction.