On March 29 this year, HPCL-Mittal Energy Ltd (HMEL) fully operationalised its nine million tonnes a year or 180,000 barrels a day Guru Gobind Singh Refinery at Phullokari, Bhatinda, Punjab.

With this, India's refinery capacity reached close to 212 million tonnes or 4.24 million barrels a day. Mr S. Roy Choudhury, Chairman & Managing Director, HPCL, and Chairman of the Board of Directors of HMEL, shares his company's journey ahead with Business Line .

What next for HPCL? What is the status of new refinery in Mumbai?

We are looking at options to put up refineries at West Coast and East Coast, as the capacity there is short of marketing sales. Various aspects such as environmental constraints and land availability at these locations are being considered.

Will the Bhatinda refinery, which will cater to North India, also explore exports to Pakistan?

Yes, while Bhatinda refinery will meet demand of North India, we are open to exports to Pakistan, if there is an opportunity, as we have the flexibility to transport petroleum products through pipelines.

Will you come out with an IPO for the Bhatinda refinery?

The HMEL Board and joint venture partners will take a suitable decision at an appropriate time.

Are you planning to expand the Bhatinda refinery into a petrochem plant?

Here again, I would say that the Board and joint venture partners will take a suitable decision at an appropriate time.

Do you think India will have excess refining capacity?

HPCL's refining capacity is still less than its sales volume. (HPCL owns and operates two refineries — one in Mumbai (6.5 million tonnes) and another in Visakhapatnam (8.3 million tonnes). In collaboration with Mittal Energy Investments Pvt Ltd, it has commissioned a nine-million-tonne refinery in Punjab.

richam@thehindu.co.in

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