New Delhi: The Residue Upgradation Facility (RUF) at Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited’s Visakh Refinery has commenced operations, marking a significant step in India’s energy sector. Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised the launch, stating that this state-of-the-art plant will accelerate efforts to strengthen the country’s energy security.
Responding to Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri’s post on ‘X’, PM Modi said, “This advanced facility boosts our endeavour for energy security, helping us become self-reliant in this sector.”
Earlier, Minister Hardeep Singh Puri shared that the successful operationalisation of HPCL’s Residue Upgradation Facility at Visakh refinery represents a milestone in India’s journey toward energy security. Located in Andhra Pradesh, this critical infrastructure is a decisive step towards a self-reliant India under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Modi and Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu.
Puri highlighted that this facility exemplifies indigenous engineering, featuring three LC-Max reactors weighing 2,200 metric tonnes each. These reactors are among the heaviest engineering blocks globally and have been entirely manufactured and assembled within India.
The facility, with a capacity of 3.55 million metric tonnes per annum (MMTPA), employs advanced residue hydrocracking technology. This enables the conversion of approximately 93 percent of the heavier fractions of crude oil into higher-value products. Such efficient utilisation ensures maximum output from every barrel of oil, helping meet the country’s growing energy demand.
Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited, through its ‘X’ post, described this development as a milestone in crude oil refining. The world’s first LC-Max based Residue Upgradation Facility at Visakh refinery converts 93 percent of the heaviest part of crude oil into useful fuel instead of leaving it as low-value residue, thereby enhancing fuel production efficiency.
This facility’s inauguration marks a significant advancement in India’s refining capabilities, reinforcing the nation’s commitment to energy self-sufficiency and sustainable growth.