HPCL will set up oil refinery in Rajasthan: Pradhan

Union Minister of State for Petroleum Dharmendra Pradhan today assured that the proposed oil refinery will be set up in Rajasthan by the state run HPCL after a review of the project is completed.
Pradhan also accused Congress of misleading people on the issue of refinery, saying the previous government in the state had taken the decision in haste before the assembly elections.
However, the union and the state governments are committed for the project and the refinery will be set up in Rajasthan by HPCL,
"The project of refinery will be set up by HPCL in Rajasthan. We are working on a scheme for it because we want the refinery to be a profitable project," Pradhan told reporters after an MoU signing ceremony here.

He said that Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje forwarded a letter to his ministry last year raising some fundamental issues which were reviewed by the union government.
"Such projects need long preparations and planning but the former government took the decision in haste during elections. The former government ignored interests of state in finalising the project but this will not happen in our rule," he said.

Along with the refinery project, the government is also working on a project to supply gas to households through pipeline in 25 cities/towns of the state, he added.
Pradhan said that the government would also develop Delhi-Jaipur highway as a green corridor in which CNG based vehicle would be run.

Apart from this, the minister added, Rajasthan will be the primary beneficiary of a proposed policy under which there will be no need to take separate permission to explore oil, gas, hydrocarbon or any other product from a well.
"Oil India and ONGC will increase investment in exploration and production in Rajasthan." the minister added.