Pachpadra Refinery Fire Traced to Gauge Leak: HPCL Eyes May Relaunch

Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) provided crucial insights into the fire that halted its ambitious Rajasthan refinery project. A leak from a pressure gauge on the Crude Distillation Unit's vacuum residue exchanger inlet line sparked the blaze on April 20, mere hours before PM Modi's planned launch. Built at a whopping Rs 79,450 crore in Pachpadra, this refinery-cum-petrochemical complex is poised to be India's 24th refinery and the second-most complex. The fire was contained to the heat exchanger stack, affecting six units, as per HPCL's stock exchange disclosure. Repairs are progressing swiftly, with the company anticipating completion within 3-4 weeks. Operations in the Crude Distillation Unit should resume by mid-to-late May, aligning with broader commissioning timelines. Secondary units are nearing completion, and trial runs for essential products—LPG, petrol, diesel, and naphtha—are expected soon. Full-scale production will follow stabilization, producing not just fuels but high-value petrochemicals like polypropylene and polyethylene. With a 9 MMTPA capacity and a petrochemical share exceeding 26%, the facility's Nelson Index of 17 positions it as a global benchmark for efficiency. It will cater to transportation, packaging, healthcare, and infrastructure needs, cutting India's reliance on imports. A government inquiry, headed by ex-MRPL head M. Venkatesh, runs parallel to HPCL's efforts. Such risks are inherent in startup phases worldwide, where high-temperature systems meet hydrocarbons. The deferred inauguration reflects caution, but momentum toward commercial ops from July 1 remains intact.