After nearly 12 years of political and developmental delays, Rajasthan’s long-awaited Barmer Refinery is finally set to become operational this December. Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma announced that the massive HPCL project will begin production by the end of the year, marking a historic milestone for the state’s economy. The refinery, built at a cost of around ₹72,000 crore, is expected to transform western Rajasthan into a major petrochemical hub and create thousands of direct and indirect jobs.
CM Sharma recently met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi, where he presented a progress report on the project and extended a formal invitation to inaugurate the refinery. According to government sources, the project could be unveiled in December, coinciding with the second anniversary of the state government.
26% State Stake and Employment Boost
Speaking during his Kolkata visit, CM Sharma reaffirmed the state’s commitment to industrial growth through the development of the Rajasthan Petro Zone, where work has already begun in 11 industrial blocks.
He stated,
“The Barmer Refinery will be a milestone in Rajasthan’s development. The state government holds a 26% stake in the project, which will generate thousands of direct and lakhs of indirect jobs — benefiting the youth of Barmer, Jaisalmer, and Jodhpur.”
Beyond Fuel: Petrochemical Production
The refinery will not only produce petrol and diesel but also petrochemical products such as plastic, fiber, detergents, and other industrial materials. Supporting infrastructure — including railway connectivity, power supply, and road networks — is almost complete.
Land allotment for downstream industries in the Rajasthan Petro Zone has already begun, and institutions like the Central Institute of Petrochemicals Technology in Jaipur are training local youth to equip them with technical skills for direct employment opportunities.
A 12-Year Political Journey
The Barmer Refinery’s story is also one of political tug-of-war. The project was first laid in 2013 by then-Congress president Sonia Gandhi with an initial cost of ₹37,000 crore. The BJP, at that time, dismissed it as an election stunt and halted it upon coming to power. In 2017, the Vasundhara Raje government introduced a new financial model, reducing the state’s burden from ₹56,000 crore to ₹40,000 crore.
In 2018, PM Narendra Modi formally relaunched the revised ₹43,129 crore project — a move Congress later termed a “re-foundation ceremony.” The subsequent Ashok Gehlot government called it a “dream project,” but work slowed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The current BJP government claims that 95% of the project is now complete, and operations will commence in December. The Congress, however, argues that 90% of the work was finished under its tenure.
