Facilities for Euro-III & IV grade Gasoline: Both Refineries have executed Green Fuels & Emission Control Project (GFECP) at Mumbai Refinery and Clean Fuel Project at Visakh Refinery to produce Euro-III/IV gasoline with capability to produce Euro-IV MS. Apart from meeting MS quality stipulations, the project also enabled to upgrade Naphtha to Gasoline which is a value added product.

New FCCU project at Mumbai Refinery: In order to enhance the production of value added products like LPG, MS and HSD, the refinery is installing a new FCCU of 1.4 MMTPA capacity, which will increase the FCCU processing capacity from the existing level of 1 MMTPA to 2.4 MMTPA. The project is expected to be completed by the 2nd qtr of 2010-11.

Environmental facilities: Environmental facilities are being upgraded in both the Refineries by installing Integrated Effluent Treatment Plants to comply with air pollution limits set forth by Pollution Control Board.

Bottom Up-gradation Projects: Mumbai Refinery has undertaken Feasibility Study of “Solvent Deasphlating Unit (SDA)” by using the proprietary technology “Residuum Oil Supercritical Extraction (ROSE)”. Setting up of this plant is expected to enhance the recovery of valuable oil from the heavier fraction of the crude (VTB).

Similarly Visakh Refinery has also planned to implement the Delayed Coker Unit (DCU) Projects for bottom up gradation.

LOBS Project: Mumbai refinery produces various grades of LOBS with sulphur above 300 ppm and saturates below 90%, which fall under API Gr-I category. To meet the increased demand of the same LOBS quality in the domestic market including the API Gr-II/III category the capacity is being uplifted. The project will help HPCL to keep its market share of LOBS intact. The project is expected to be completed by June 2010.

MR/VR DHT: Both Refineries are setting up DHT projects to upgrade / produce the Euro-III / IV HSD and projects are expected to be completed mechanically by Sept 2011. The Environmental Clearance for both the refineries, Mumbai Refinery and Visakh Refinery have been obtained.

Single Point Mooring (SPM) Project at Visakh Refinery: Visakh Refinery putting up SPM project to facilitate unloading of large crude parcels of the size of around 300,000 Metric Tonnes from Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs). The VLCCs cannot be berthed in the existing crude receiving jetties due to draught restrictions. The installation of SPM will reduce the freight cost and wharfage charges and thus will improve the economics of the Refinery. The Environmental Clearance for this project has been obtained. The offshore and onshore installation work of the project has been completed.

Modernization Project for Mounded Storage System for LPG /Propylene at Visakh Refinery: Visakh Refinery is executing the Mounded storage system for LPG and Propylene in place of existing LPG /Propylene Horton spheres. This is a risk mitigation project and undertaken following the recommendations by the external safety agencies, viz., High Power steering Committee August, 1998, 4th Round ESA - September, 1999 etc. The Mounded storage of LPG has proved to be safer compared to above ground storage vessels since it provides intrinsically passive and safe environment and eliminates the possibility of Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapour Explosion (BLEVE) phenomenon. The approved project cost is Rs. 124 Crores.
This Project has been accorded Environmental Clearance by Ministry of Environment & Forests (MoEF) vide its letter no. F.No. J-11011/66/2007-IA II (I) dated March 7, 2008. View Compliance Report.