NCP Advocates for New Refinery in Maharashtra Following Discussions with MahaYuti Allies and Local Residents

Mumbai, Jan 3 (NationPress) The NCP, part of the ruling MahaYuti coalition in Maharashtra, has emphatically advocated for the creation of a refinery in the coastal Ratnagiri district, previously known as the Nanar refinery, following discussions with the grand alliance and ensuring local support.

The state NCP president, Sunil Tatkare, who also chairs the Parliamentary Standing Committee on petroleum and natural gas, stated, "There is potential for the refinery, albeit with a reduced capacity compared to earlier proposals, to be established in Maharashtra."

"The Centre has suggested this direction. With the formation of a new government enjoying a strong mandate, discussions regarding the development of the refinery with diminished capacity can take place among the Centre, other MahaYuti partners, and community members," he added.

"Given the significant amount of oil imports by the country, establishing a refinery is essential," Tatkare emphasized.

While he noted that refinery development does not fall under his responsibilities as the Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee, he insisted that the state must reevaluate the proposal and advance it.

He urged that the new government in Maharashtra should promptly decide on the refinery's development.

"Most elected representatives from the Konkan region in both the Lok Sabha and the state Assembly are members of the MahaYuti. Thus, the government should engage in discussions with them and local residents before approaching the Centre," he commented.

Tatkare's remarks are particularly significant, especially considering the initial mega refinery project with a planned annual operating capacity of 60 million tonnes (MMT) proposed by a collaboration of three public sector undertakings—IOC, HPCL, and BPCL—during the administration of Devendra Fadnavis from 2014 to 2019.

However, Fadnavis halted the land notification prior to the 2019 Assembly elections due to strong resistance from the Shiv Sena, led by Uddhav Thackeray, which was allied with the BJP at that time.

Subsequently, Hardeep Singh Puri, the Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, indicated that the Centre intends to revive the 60 MMT Ratnagiri refinery project.

The project faced delays under the previous Maharashtra regime due to land acquisition issues.

Puri suggested the possibility of establishing three separate units of 20 MMT each at various locations instead of a single 60 MMT refinery.

Following this, the state government identified a new site at Barsu in the Ratnagiri district, but progress on the proposal has yet to be made.