HPCL and Raj Govt sign MoU for crude oil refinery in Barmer
Jaipur, Mar 14: The memorandum of understanding(MoU) for putting a state-of-art 9-MT crude oil refinery in Barmer was signed between the Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited(HPCL) and the Rajasthan Government here today.
The MoU for the much-awaited dream project for the desert state was signed by HPCL Director(Refineries) K Murli and Rajasthan Petroleum Secretary Sudhansh Pant during a ceremony at the CMO here in the presence of Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister M Veerappa Moily.
Minister of State for Petroleum P Laxmi, Rajasthan Mines and Petroleum Minister Rajednra Pareek, several MPs, MLAs, State Chief Secretary CK Mathew and executives of HPCL were present.
The ambitious project was approved at the meeting of the Board of Directors of HPCL held in New Delhi on March 5.
The State Government had recently given its approval for the grant of gap funding financial package of Rs 3,336 crore per annum for a period of 15 years.
The project involves an investment of Rs 37,230 and would generate employment avenues for about 1.25 lakh families.
The state government would also have 15 to 26 per cent equity stake in the project.
Besides the refinery, the state government is working to develop petro-chemical industrial hub in and around Barmer that would transform entirely the scenario in the desert land.
Speaking on the occasion the amibitious project-the largest in the history of the state of Rajasthan, is the outcome of the protracted long efforts made by the state government those were culminarted into a successfully ending with personal and special initiatives and interest by Petroleum Minister Dr Moily.
Dr Moily also greeted the Chief Minister for the success saying that this was being achieved by untiring efforts and initiatives by Mr Gehlot.
Dr Moily said the refinery and related petro-chemical industiral hub would transform enitre desert lands and assured that it would provide employment avenue to every of the house-hold in the area.
A comprehensive training-cum-skill development initiatives would be taken by the HPCL to enable people of the area to get employment ability, the Minister has announced.
The refinery would be ready by December 2017.