Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (ANK)
Mangaluru, Mar 25: Union petroleum minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Sunday March 25 said that Mangaluru is emerging as a new economic hub, and that the merger of ONGC Mangalore Petrochemicals Limited (OMPL) and MRPL is at the final stage and ready for mega expansion.
Addressing a press meet at the Circuit House here, Pradhan said, "Mangalore refinery is a state-of-the-art refinery. In the last four years we have come up with lots of plans to improve the petroleum sector and make Mangaluru a new economic hub. Mangaluru is emerging as the new economic hub.
"At present, MRPL's capacity is 15 million metric tonnes, which will soon be increased to 25 million metric tonnes. The merger of OMPL and MRPL is at the final stage. It is ready for mega expansion starting from land acquisition, technical selection and financial assessment. The total investment capacity of the expansion plan is Rs 70,000 crore," he added.
"Mangalore refinery is an eco-friendly, efficient complex which can even process the crude oil from North America, Iran and Iraq. Now petrol and diesel are titrated, and after the merger the titration will be of petrochemicals and chemicals, which will be great process that will attract a lot of additional state revenue and boost employment.
"For the past four years we are focusing on creating more green energy and by end of April 2020 we will produce BA 6 standard of oil. In Mangaluru it will happen by March 2019," he added.
Regarding Kochi-Mangaluru gas pipeline, he said merger is awaited and by October or November this year, natural gas will be supplied through pipeline in Mangaluru.
"In Karnataka there are over 1.4 crore households with gas connections. In 2014, there were 81 lac gas connections, and a total of 50 lac new connections were added after 2014, covering 89% of the state. Karnatala will soon be the first to have 100% gas connections and also become a smoke-free state, which will be great achievement," he said.