Jaipur, July 23 (IANS) With production commencing at the Rajasthan Refinery, the state government is positioning the adjoining Petro-Zone as a key investment destination for petrochemical industries, citing assured availability of raw materials and significant industrial growth potential.
Chairing a high-level review meeting at the Secretariat on Wednesday, Additional Chief Secretary (Mines and Petroleum) Aparna Arora said the ready availability of refinery by-products would make the Petro-Zone an attractive and commercially viable location for investors.
She said that industries manufacturing products based on High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE), Linear Low-Density Polyethylene (LLDPE) and Polypropylene (PP) would have assured access to raw materials, creating strong opportunities for investment in the petrochemical sector.
Arora directed the Department of Industries and the Rajasthan State Industrial Development and Investment Corporation (RIICO) to identify potential investors and actively encourage them to establish manufacturing units in the Petro-Zone.
The meeting was attended by senior officials from the Department of Industries, RIICO, the Petroleum Department, Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) and Rajasthan Refinery.
Arora said that preference should be given to industries with low water requirements or those capable of using treated water.
She noted that entrepreneurs setting up units in the Petro-Zone would have immediate access to refinery feedstock, eliminating delays in procuring raw materials.
She called for coordinated efforts among the Industries Department, RIICO, the Petroleum Department, HPCL and refinery management to promote investment in the region.
According to Additional Chief Secretary (Mines and Petroleum), developing downstream petrochemical industries within the state would enable local utilisation of refinery by-products, attract fresh industrial investment, generate direct and indirect employment, increase state revenue and strengthen Rajasthan’s economy.
She directed RIICO and the Industries Department to assess market demand and supply prospects for petrochemical products and identify industries best suited for the Petro-Zone.
She also asked RIICO to ensure that essential infrastructure, including roads, power supply and water, is developed to facilitate industrial investment.
RIICO Managing Director Suresh Ola and Industries Commissioner Nilabh Saxena said the Industries Department, RIICO, the Bureau of Investment Promotion (BIP) and HPCL would jointly engage with prospective investors to promote the Petro-Zone.
HPCL Director (Marketing) Amit Garg said the Petro-Zone could support a wide range of downstream manufacturing industries producing items such as water storage tanks, carry bags, shopping bags, fertiliser, chemical and cement packaging bags, plastic ropes, packaging pouches for edible oil, ghee and milk, plastic containers, chemical drums, crates, irrigation and household pipes, road dividers, masks, BOPP products, diapers, gloves, nets and other plastic goods.
He said investors would benefit from assured raw material availability, negligible inventory costs and incentives offered for setting up units in the Petro-Zone.
Rajasthan Refinery CEO Kamlakar Vikhar gave a detailed presentation on the refinery’s products and production capacity during the meeting.
Senior officials, including Special Secretary (Mines) Namrata Vrishni, Director (Petroleum) Awadhesh Singh, representatives of RIICO and HPCL, and other departmental officers, were also present.
–IANS
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