CM Naidu Keeps Promise: ₹60,000 Cr BPCL Project to Be Set Up Near Andhra Port.

Andhra Pradesh is set to establish a major oil refinery and petrochemical hub at Ramayapatnam in Nellore district, with an investment of ₹60,000 crore, fulfilling a long-standing promise made during the state’s bifurcation in 2014. The project, backed by Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL), is poised to be a significant boost for Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu’s administration.

BPCL will develop the refinery and petrochemical complex on 1,000 acres of land, with access to a captive jetty at the nearby Ramayapatnam port. After considering three potential locations—Srikakulam, Machilipatnam, and Ramayapatnam—the site in Ramayapatnam was found to be the most suitable for the project following detailed feasibility studies. A formal announcement is expected by the end of the month.

The refinery project is a key win for Naidu, who has been advocating for the development as part of his agenda with the Bharatiya Janata Party-led central government. The project aligns with the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act of 2014, which outlined plans for the establishment of such infrastructure in the state.

The state’s industries minister, TG Bharath, declined to comment on the development, but a senior official indicated that the announcement could coincide with the foundation stone ceremony for NTPC's green hydrogen hub in Pudimadaka, near Visakhapatnam, later this month.

Naidu’s commitment to this long-awaited project follows discussions with BPCL’s leadership, including a key meeting in July, and reflects the chief minister’s strengthened political standing following the 2024 general elections. The refinery was a part of the Thirteenth Schedule of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, which outlined infrastructure commitments from the Centre to support the state's development after bifurcation.

BPCL has yet to respond to queries regarding the project.

ET