It is learnt that chairman and managing director of the Hindustan Petroleum Corporation HL Zutshi and senior functionaries of HPCL who were here had a meeting with the Punjab Chief Minister on October 5 to discuss the implementation of the refinery project.

During the meeting, a detailed presentation was made by HPCL depicting the current status of the project, the future plans and the implementation of the project and its schedule.

It was explained in the meeting that 9 MMTPA grass root refinery would have 140mw captive power plant. It would have a single mooring and crude oil terminal at Mundra. Thereafter, the crude oil would be carried through 1006 km pipeline from Mundra to Bathinda.

The capital cost of the project is estimated at Rs 10,000 crore and the scheduled date of completion within 48 months. The refinery would have capacity to produce LPG, Naphtha, motor spirit, kerosene, diesel etc. The prime minister of India had laid down the foundation stone on the November 13 last year and in the past 8 to 10 months, significant steps had been taken for promoting and developing this project to the extent that requisite approvals had since been obtained.

According to HPCL and Punjab government officials, the consultants had been finalised, process of land acquisition has been initiated and already land measuring 2000 acres acquired for the project and possession taken, compensation had been paid.

Significantly an 18 km long well, probably the longest in the country has been erected at site at a cost of almost Rs 5 crore in a record time of four months. The DFR has been submitted to the Government of India.

The environmental clearance for the refinery as also the clearance from the government of India for setting up of the refinery had also been obtained. Action had been initiated to identify the consultants that would help in setting up of pipeline and refinery.

Requisite clearance from state governments has been obtained which would enable the pipeline which would traverse through four states in order to reach Bathinda from Mundra.

At the meeting it was brought into the notice of the Chief minister that in addition to starting the work on laying of pipeline from Tundra to Bathinda, very shortly work shall start at the site as well initially with the putting up of storage tanks, construction of housing units, infrastructure development, internal roads, green belt etc. It was also decided to widen and strengthen the 22 km long approach road connecting Dabwali on the national highway.