The Hindu Business Line : Visakha refinery completes 50 years

The Visakha refinery of HPCL has completed 50 years of operation and is going strong, expanding the capacity and implementing modern safety systems in the industry, according to Mr A.S. Rao, Executive Director in-charge of the refinery.

Reviewing the performance of the refinery on the occasion of the golden jubilee here on Wednesday evening, he said, the refinery, which began with 0.65 MMTPA capacity in 1957 currently has an installed capacity of 7.5 MMTPA. “Presently, the refinery is implementing the green fuels project at a cost of Rs 2,100 crore to produce Euro III and Euro IV quality petrol and diesel,” he said.

Mr Rao said the refining industry was facing many challenges today, like increased pressure on margins due to spiralling crude prices, so therefore innovative business strategies were required to compete in the global market.

He said the refinery had achieved the highest-ever crude throughput of 9.244 million tonnes (mt) per year during 2006-2007 and also the highest ever exports of 1,489.9 mt. The refinery started manufacture of auto LPG from January 2007.

Mr Rao said the refinery was according priority to safety management, with emphasis on introduction of latest technologies and training the personnel to make use of those technologies. Extra care is being taken after the “unfortunate incident in 1997”. It may be recalled that in 1997 a major fire broke out in the refinery.

Large number of detectors have been installed in the refinery to detect any leak of gas and hydrocarbons. Wireless fire siren system has also been installed. Mock drills are being conducted on a regular basis to maintain emergency preparedness, he pointed out.

Mounded storage

In the LPG storage area too improved safety features have been introduced. Blast-proof control room, water flooding system, hydrocarbon detectors, safety interlocks, safety valves and automatic water deluge system are some of the features, he stated.

Mr Rao said the refinery is now implementing a project to construct mounded LPG storage within the premises at a cost of Rs 130 crore. “Mounded storage is substantially safer in comparison with overground storage,” he explained. Above all, he said, periodic safety audits, both internal and external, were being conducted.

Mr Rao said the Visakha refinery is an ISO 14001 certified company and in disposing liquid effluents, emissions and solid waste all the latest technologies were being adopted. Aware of its social responsibility, the refinery has also adopted backward villages, he added.