Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) has made significant investments totalling $864 million (Rs. 7,196 crores) in the period of April to September 2023, which includes equity investments in joint ventures and subsidiaries, aimed at enhancing its refining and marketing infrastructure.
One notable achievement is the successful commissioning of the Visakhapatnam Refinery Modernization Project’s New Hydrogen Generation Unit (HGU). This HGU is a remarkable achievement, as it stands as the largest single capacity train in India and one of the largest in Asia. Additionally, a new Sulphur Recovery Unit (SRU) has been commissioned, boasting an impressive 99.9% sulfur recovery rate. The SRU is designed with the flexibility to utilize oxygen-enriched combustion to enhance its capacity as needed.
Furthermore, the 3.05 MMTPA Capacity Full Conversion Hydrocracker Unit (FCHCU) has been successfully commissioned. This energy efficient FCHCU represents the highest capacity Hydrocracker unit in India, boasting an impressive 99.5% conversion rate. This advancement is expected to increase the distillate yield by approximately 5%. With these upgrades in place, the Visakhapatnam Refinery is set to operate at a higher capacity of 13.7 MMTPA, along with increased yields.
A notable project in progress is the construction of the 3.55 MMTPA capacity Residue Upgradation Facility (RUF), a pioneering technology in India. This facility aims to convert bottom oils into value-added light hydrocarbon products, which is expected to significantly improve Gross Refining Margins (GRMs).
In the same period, HPCL’s ongoing 9 MMTPA integrated grass root refinery and petrochemical project in Barmer, Rajasthan (HRRL) achieved Mechanical Completion of Diesel Hydrotreating (DHDT) and Hydrogen Generation Unit (HGU). Construction activities at the project site continue to progress rapidly, with an average daily workforce of around 27,000 individuals.
Furthermore, HPCL expanded its LPG infrastructure by commissioning a new LPG Plant with a capacity of 120 TMTPA in Abu Road in September 2023. This addition brings HPCL’s bottling capacity to an impressive 6,530 TMTPA, spread across its 56 bottling plants.
HPCL’s commitment to expansion and growth is also evident in its retail operations. The company commissioned 189 new retail outlets across the country during the quarter, bringing the total number of retail outlets to 21,431. Additionally, 23 new LPG distributorships were added during this period, increasing the total number of LPG distributorships to 6,312. HPCL continues to make significant strides in the energy and chemical industry, with a focus on modernization, capacity enhancement, and infrastructure development.