New Delhi, Mar. 26 (ANI): The untiring efforts of Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot have yielded results and the long cherished dream of the people of Rajasthan having refinery in Rajasthan is going to be realised soon.
The crude oil being explored from the sand dunes of Rajasthan will change the picture of the state. The project of refinery-cum-petrochemical complex in Barmer will be the second biggest and ambitious project in Rajasthan after Indira Gandhi Canal, which will rejuvenate the state.
It is the result of Gehlot's strong determination and efficient financial management that the long cherished dream of refinery has realized and a golden chapter has opened in the history of Rajasthan. The proposed refinery with an estimated capital investment of Rs. 37,230 crores will provide employment to about one lakh people directly or indirectly and huge investment will usher the economic growth of the state.
The refinery will play pivotal role in moving the state ahead on the path of prosperity. The royalty and additional revenue from the oil will help in increasing GDP growth of the State besides enhancing the revenue reserves. The refinery will bring investment of Rs. 86,000 crores in the next four years and will provide employment to 30-35 thousand people of economically and backward border area.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Government of Rajasthan and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd. (HPCL) on March 14 for setting up a state-off-the-art 9 MMTPA Refinery-cum-Petroleum Complex in Barmer.
The participation of state government will be 15 to 26 percent while participation of HPCL will be 51 to 74 percent in this ambitious project, which will change the picture of Rajasthan. The project of refinery-cum-petrochemical complex is expected to complete by December 2017.
Chief Minister Gehlot for the first time had made request to UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi during her Rajasthan visit to inaugurate the pipe line of HPCL for setting up refinery in Barmer.
He had also requested Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh during his Barmer visit to launch the commercial production of crude oil in Barmer. The issue had been raised during Prime Minister's meeting with the State Cabinet in Jaipur and the Prime Minister had given positive assurance to the Chief Minister.
The untiring and serious efforts of Gehlot for setting up refinery in Rajasthan continued and he constantly made requests to the then Petroleum Ministers Murli Deora and S. Jaipal Reddy. He also raised this issue strongly during his meetings with the current Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Dr. M. Veerappa Moily. Dr. Moily had assured Gehlot that the Centre will take decision keeping in view the feelings and expectations of the people of Rajasthan.
The availability of the crude oil in Rajasthan had been estimated to be 900 million tonnes. Currently, nine million tonnes crude oil is being explored every year in Rajasthan, which is 20 percent of the total domestic production of crude oil in the country. It is expected to reach 15 million tonnes per year in the near future.
Currently 1.75 lakh barrels crude oil is being explored by Cairn India per day and Rajasthan has become the second biggest oil producer state after Maharashtra (2.25 lakh barrels). If Rajasthan produces 3-lakh barrels crude oil per day it will be 35 percent production of the total domestic crude oil production in the country and Rajasthan will become number one crude oil producing state in the country.
After setting up refinery-cum-petrochemicals complex in Rajasthan the industries related to petro-chemicals, petro-engineering, petro medicinal research, polymers and plastic will get boost in Rajasthan. Naphtha, diesel, petrol, kerosene and aviation fuel (gasoline) will also be produced in the State. After setting up other industries based on petroleum will increase the employment opportunities for the youth in the State.
The process for land acquisition for the refinery in Leelala, Jaduon Ki Dhani and Sabramani areas near Baytu tehsil of Barmer district has started. The State Government will provide 926 hactares of land free-of-cost for the refinery and farmers affected by land acquisition will be provided full compensation for their acquired land. The Industry Minister of Rajasthan Rajendra Pareek said the state will take new turn after setting up of refinery. According to the experts this refinery will have the advanced technology and will be based on Vax Oil technique with the annual production of 90 lakh tonnes.
Gehlot has also announced for providing ITI training on a large scale to the local youth, which will help them in getting employment. Besides Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab and Madhya Pradesh will be the prominent markets for the petro-substances produced in Barmer. The people of the State will get benefit of low transportation cost for gas, petrol, diesel and other petro-products.
After setting up of refinery having capacity of 9.14 million tonnes per year the annual royalty from oil exploration which is Rs. 5000 crores currently is expected to reach 13-15 thousand crores per year. It will prove to be crucial for enhancing the financial condition of the State.
Gehlot has approved annual package of Rs. 3376 crores (viability gap funding) to HPCL after commencement of the commercial production. Thus financial incentive package of total Rs. 56,040 crores has been sanctioned for 15 years. Apart from these facilities like free-of-cost land, water and development of basic infrastructure will be given by the state government.
The refinery-cum-petrochemical complex being set up in Barmer will put the foundation of making of new Rajasthan. The land of western Rajasthan, which is facing drought and famine for years, will ooze out black gold that will change the picture of this state considered backward in many ways. (ANI)
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