Question : Setting up of Refinery

(a) whether the Government proposes to create world’s largest refinery-cum petrochemicals complex at Babulwadi, Taluka Rajapur in Ratnagiri district and if so, the details thereof?
(b) whether the Government is aware that the proposed refinery is being set up in the eco-sensitive area and fertile land and if so, the details thereof along with the ground report submitted by the IOCL for the said project including the details of the site earmarked for the project;
(c) whether the Government is facing opposition from the inhabitants of the area and have received representations from various organizations and public representatives and if so, the details thereof along with the response of the Government thereto;
(d) whether the Government proposes to consider/revisit their decision for setting up the petrochemical refinery at Rajapur in Ratnigiri District; and
(e) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor and the manner in which the Government proposes to resolve the opposition issue and concerns of the inhabitants of the area?

MINISTER OF PETROELUM & NATURAL GAS
(SHRI DHARMENDRA PRADHAN)
(a) Oil PSUs namely Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL), Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) have decided to set up an integrated refinery-cum-petrochemical complex with a refining capacity of 60 MMTPA (million metric tonnes per annum) at Babulwadi, Taluka Rajapur in Ratnagiri District in the state of Maharashtra with an estimated investment of Rs. 3 lakh crore. A Joint Venture (JV) Company, ‘Ratnigiri Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited (RRPCL)’ has been formed to execute the project. Global Oil and Gas majors, Saudi Aramco & ADNOC have also partnered with the JV Company.
(b) The proposed refinery site has been identified by Oil PSUs in consultation with Government of Maharashtra. IOCL has informed that the land is mostly barren, rocky and undulating and outside eco-sensitive area. Mango trees and agricultural cultivation are present in small pockets. Government of Maharashtra vide Gazette Notification on 18.05.2017 has declared the said site as an industrial area under MIDC Act, 1961.
(c) IOCL has reported that there is some opposition to the project due to concerns relating to the effect on environment. However, as per IOCL, the impact of the refinery operations on the agricultural crops of the region would not be very high. The refinery would meet the stringent environmental standards followed worldwide.
(d) &( e) RRPCL has initiated awareness campaign through print and electronic media as well as door to door campaign to impress upon the local population about the benefits of the project as well as to dispel misconception about adverse environment impact by setting up the refinery. At this stage, there is no proposal to consider/revisit the decision for setting up of Refinery cum Petrochemical Complex at Rajapur in Ratnigiri District.
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