Bhubaneswar: The 22nd Refinery Technology & Petrochemicals Meet (RPTM), jointly organised by Centre for High Technology (CHT) and Indian Oil Corporation Ltd started here Saturday.
While inaugurating the three-day event, Union petroleum and natural gas minister Dharmendra Pradhan said the country’s public and private sector oil and gas companies need to add at least 200 million tonnes of refining capacity in the next two decades to maintain India’s leadership position in the world.
The minister expressed strong optimism about the Indian refining industry going from strength to strength and achieving global excellence standards in the years to come.
About 1,000 delegates from India and abroad are participating in the meet under the aegis of Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas. The theme of the meet is ‘Emerging Trends in Downstream Hydrocarbon Sector.’
Pradhan said the Integrated refinery – petrochemical complexes should be the future for deriving maximum benefits for the industry.
Underlining the critical importance of innovation and research & development, he said these will be vital to achieve sustainable growth and providing clean, affordable energy to a large number of people.
He said the meet will give impetus to Odisha being developed as the Energy Gateway to Eastern India which has been described as ‘Purvoday – a Prosperous East for a New India’.
Pradhan released the RPTM Compendium and “Report on Enhancing Refining Capacity by 2040”, inaugurated the event exhibition and a poster display exhibition showcasing the advances being made in the refining & petrochemicals sector by Indian and foreign companies. (PNN)