NEW DELHI: HPCL Rajasthan Refinery Limited (HRRL), which caught fire on April 20, a day before it was to be inaugurated by PM Narendra Modi, has been restored and has started production of petroleum products.In a regulatory filing, the company said production of key petroleum products such as BS VI-compliant high-speed diesel (HSD), liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), petroleum coke (petcoke) and naphtha has begun, while BS VI-compliant motor spirit’s (MS) production is likely to start next week. The refinery has already started the sale of LPG and petcoke, while the first batch of HSD is likely to be dispatched by the end of this week. The sale of MS is also expected to begin after production starts next week.“All product streams from CDU/VDU (crude and vacuum distillation unit) are being produced and routed to the respective tanks for downstream processing,” HPCL informed the exchanges.A joint venture between state-owned HPCL — which holds a 74% stake — and Rajasthan govt — which owns remaining 26% equity — the refinery and petrochemical complex located in Balotra district has been designed to process 9 million tonnes of crude oil every year to produce petrol, diesel and petrochemicals, such as polypropylene, high- and linear low-density polyethylene, benzene, toluene and butadiene.A localised fire in a heat exchanger circuit, caused by a likely hydrocarbon leak from a valve or flange, had disrupted the commissioning of the Rs 79,450-crore refinery. Officials said the unit impacted by the fire was isolated and no other section had suffered any damage. No loss of life or injury to any personnel was reported in the incident.
