Hindustan Petroleum Corporation (HPCL) expects to run the operation of Vizag refinery at an expanded capacity of 15 million tpa, setting up of a new plant at Barmer in Rajasthan and LNG terminal in Gujarat.

The upgradation project at Vizag which is aimed at improving the distillate yield to meet the growing fuel demand is expected to be ready by the end of 2023 or in January 2024. Another upcoming project pertains to a new nine million tpa plant at Barmer in Rajasthan for which commissioning activity is underway with a completion timeline of June, 2023.

To further expand its portfolio, HPCL is setting up an oil-to-chemical plant linked to its Vizag refinery and building a five million tpa gas import terminal at Chhara in Gujarat, expected to be ready by end of March, 2023. However, commissioning would be started once the pipeline for evacuation of gas and a breakwater to protect vessels against high tide are in place.

Meanwhile a term sheet to import 1.5-2 million tonne of liquefied natural gas (LNG) has been floated by HPCL.