75% Work Completed at NRL Expansion Project

Over 75 per cent of the mega expansion project of Numaligarh Refinery has been completed, and the project is expected to be completed by the end of this year. After completion, the NRL, in addition to catering to the needs of the Northeast, will also export petroleum products to neighbouring countries.

Numaligarh Refinery Limited (NRL) sources told The Assam Tribune that after the completion of the expansion project, the refining capacity of the refinery would increase from 3 MMTPA to 9 MMTPA. The anticipated cost of the expansion project is around Rs 339.01 billion.

This strategic expansion aligns with India's growing energy demand and strengthens NRL's role as a key player in the petroleum sector.

As part of this project, NRL is establishing a new 6 MMT-PA refinery designed to process imported crude oil. The refinery's advanced configuration will enable the production of petrochemical feedstock – propylene – marking NRL's entry into the petrochemical sector. This will pave the way for a polypropylene production unit, reducing India's dependence on imports to meet domestic demand.

To facilitate the supply of imported crude oil, a 1,640 km pipeline from Paradip (Odisha) to Numaligarh is under construction. This pipeline, one of the longest crude oil pipelines in India, traverses through Odisha, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Bihar, and Assam and is expected to ensure a steady supply chain for the expanded refinery.

It is envisaged that this crude oil pipeline will create an energy corridor for the Northeast by connecting hinterland refineries in Assam with a seaport. The pipeline is designed to carry additional crude oil to facilitate future capacity expansion of other Assam refineries.

NRL's expansion project will significantly boost industrial growth, create employment opportunities, and contribute towards enhancing Assam's role in energy production and supply.

Sources said that as of February 28, 2025, the overall physical progress of the NRL's expansion project reached 75 per cent. The project is targeted for completion by December 2025, and production is expected to be stabilized in the next six months' time. All major engineering, procurement, and construction activities are progressing in full swing.