"Maharashtra Set to Accelerate Ratnagiri Refinery Project"

In a strategic move, the Maharashtra government is poised to fast-track the establishment of an integrated refinery and petrochemical complex in the Ratnagiri district. The endeavor is driven by the ambition to make significant progress before the upcoming Lok Sabha elections and advocate for its inclusion in the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor.

Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has already indicated the government's determination to ensure the realization of the proposed refinery in the Konkan region. He emphasized that if the project faces challenges in Konkan, there is a possibility of relocating it to coastal areas in other states, such as Kerala or Tamil Nadu. However, the state government insists that relocating the project to areas outside the coastal regions of Maharashtra is not a viable option.

The ruling alliance, consisting of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Shiv Sena faction led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) faction led by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, plans to highlight the delay in setting up the refinery as a key election issue.

Originally proposed in 2015 in the Nanar region of Ratnagiri, the refinery project faced opposition and was subsequently relocated to the Barsu region. However, it continues to encounter resistance, even in Barsu. The Shiv Sena, led by Uddhav Thackeray, a significant force in the Konkan region, opposes the project, citing concerns about potential ecological damage.

Major Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs), including Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL), Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL), and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL), have collectively decided to establish the integrated refinery and petrochemical complex in Ratnagiri. Furthermore, global energy giants Saudi Aramco and Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) have expressed interest in the project.

The Union government attributes project delays to changes in the plant's location and the completion of site suitability studies. The Ministry of Petroleum and Gas recently informed the Rajya Sabha that timelines for completion remain undetermined as the suitability of the identified site by the Government of Maharashtra is yet to be established. Notably, the union government clarified that, as of the current date, the project is not part of the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor.

HBL