Chandigarh: HPCL Mittal Energy Limited (HMEL) will invest ₹2,600 crore at its Guru Gobind Singh Refinery in Bathinda to develop polypropylene downstream industries and establish new fine chemical projects. The announcement was made during a joint press conference by Mr. Prabh Das, MD & CEO of HMEL, and Mr. Sanjeev Arora, Punjab’s Minister of Industry & Commerce.
Mr. Das said the Bathinda refinery has positioned Punjab as a major polypropylene manufacturing hub in India, supplying nearly 14% of the country’s total polypropylene demand. He added that the refinery has been operating continuously for several years and, beyond fuels such as petrol, diesel and gas, HMEL now plans to expand its industrial footprint through fine chemical projects.
Mr. Arora noted that the refinery, commissioned in 2011, spans around 2,000 acres and generates an annual turnover of approximately ₹90,000 crore, contributing about ₹2,100 crore annually in tax revenue to the state. He added that the new investment will create additional employment opportunities, building on the refinery’s existing direct and indirect workforce of nearly 10,000 people. The Bathinda facility currently accounts for around 5–6% of India’s total petrol and diesel production.
To further support downstream growth, the Punjab Government is considering the development of a dedicated plastic industrial park near Ludhiana. The state has also assured HMEL of time-bound approvals for expansion and simplified licensing for petrol pumps, with approvals now issued within two days. Future multi-fuel stations will offer petrol, diesel, CNG and electric vehicle charging facilities.
Mr. Arora said the ₹2,600 crore investment will spur refinery-linked industrial growth across Punjab and highlighted the state’s ongoing efforts in renewable energy to enhance overall industrial competitiveness.