Union Cabinet approves expansion project for NRL

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has given its approval to the project for capacity expansion of Numaligarh Refinery from 3 MMTPA (Million Metric Tonne Per Annum) to 9 MMTPA. Crude oil pipeline from Paradip to Numaligarh and product pipeline from Numaligarh to Siliguri will be set up at a cost of Rs. 22,594 crore. According to CCEA, the project will be completed within a period of 48 months, after approval and receipt of statutory clearances.

According to CCEA, the total project cost of Rs. 22,594 crore will be financed by a mix of debt, equity and Viability Gap Funding (VGF). The debt of Rs. 15,102 crore will be raised by Numaligarh Refinery Ltd (NRL) and apart from its internal accrual of Rs. 2,307 crore, the promoters, namely, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd, Oil India Ltd & Government of Assam (GOA) will contribute to equity. The CCEA also informed that the project will be supported by Viability Gap Funding of Rs. 1,020 crore from the Government of India.

Informing about the decision, Union Minister Piyush Goyal said, "The expansion of the refinery will meet the deficit of petroleum products in the North East. It will also sustain the operations of all North East refineries by augmenting their crude availability. It will generate direct and indirect employment in Assam and is a part of the Government's Hydrocarbon Vision 2030 for the North East."

The approval came after a meeting held by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Assam CM thanked PM Modi for the decision.

Investment approval of ₹22,594 cr for capacity expansion of Numaligarh Refinery from 3 MMTPA to 9 MMTPA is a huge boost to our requirements & a fillip to employment generation.

I thank PM Shri @narendramodi ji & the Union Cabinet for robust fulfilment of commitments. pic.twitter.com/BowavP4HhI

— Sarbananda Sonowal (@sarbanandsonwal) January 16, 2019