India overcame major global energy shock, says PM: LPG prices could have risen to ₹2,000 without supply stability amid global crisis - Jaipur News

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- PM Modi Gifts Rajasthan: Pachpadra Refinery Inaugurated | Jodhpur Airport & Jaipur Metro

India overcame major global energy shock, says PM:LPG prices could have risen to ₹2,000 without supply stability amid global crisis

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi is on a visit to Rajasthan on Saturday. He reached Jodhpur at around 10:40 am, where he inaugurated the new terminal building at the airport and inspected it. He also launched the UDAN scheme, and a presentation was shown to him.

He will also dedicate two major development projects to the state. The Prime Minister will inaugurate the long-awaited Pachpadra (Balotra) refinery in Barmer and will also lay the foundation stone (virtually) of Phase-2 of the Jaipur Metro project.

Around 12 noon, PM Modi will travel from Jodhpur to Pachpadra, where he will stay for about two hours. He will inspect the refinery project and later address a public gathering. A dome with seating capacity for 5,000 people has been set up at the site.

Weather damage ahead of event preparations

On Friday evening, strong winds and rain hit the Pachpadra region, damaging banners and hoardings installed for the Prime Minister’s visit. Workers were seen repairing the arrangements since morning.

Ahead of the visit, BJP workers also organised a cycle rally in the refinery area. Large cut-outs of PM Modi have been installed along routes in Balotra.

Previous incident at refinery site

Earlier, on 20 April, a fire broke out in two units of the refinery — the Crude Distillation Unit (CDU) and Vacuum Distillation Unit (VDU). The incident occurred a day before the scheduled inauguration on 21 April, leading to the postponement of the Prime Minister’s visit.

Parking and traffic arrangements for 3,000 vehicles

The administration has implemented a special traffic diversion plan to ensure smooth movement during the event.

Entry for visitors has been designated through Gate No. 7, where parking facilities have been created with a capacity of around 3,000 vehicles. Shuttle bus services will be available from the parking area to the event venue.

The country's most hi-tech refinery

The Pachpadra refinery is a joint venture between HPCL (74%) and the Rajasthan government (26%). After a long wait of 15 years and an additional cost of ₹42,229 crore over the initial estimate, the project is finally ready to transform the desert region’s economic landscape.

The refinery has a Nelson Complexity Index (NCI) of around 17, making it one of India’s most advanced and high-conversion refineries.

It is capable of processing heavy and low-quality crude oil from any part of the world into high-value products such as petrol, diesel and petrochemicals.

Most of the refinery’s reactors, columns and heavy tanks have been manufactured in India. Advanced control systems and high-pressure compressors involve technology from the US, Japan and Europe, while Dutch technicians have also contributed to finishing and welding quality standards.

Special heating pipeline has been laid

Since crude oil is waxy in nature, a special heated pipeline has been laid from Mundra (Gujarat) to Pachpadra to prevent solidification during transport.

Heating stations and thermal insulation have been installed along the route to maintain temperature stability. Engineers India Limited is managing the project, while global companies such as Lummus Technology, UOP and Univation Technologies have provided petrochemical and cracker unit technologies.

Thousands of kilometres of cabling and extensive use of copper wiring have been used to ensure strong electrical systems.

Once operational, the refinery is expected to significantly boost Rajasthan’s economy. The state will shift from being only a crude oil producer to a value-added manufacturing hub for products like polypropylene and polymers, encouraging growth of chemical and plastic industries.

Updates

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The Prime Minister said that Rajasthan has long faced a major water crisis, but the Congress did not take any concrete steps to resolve it.

He added that the BJP does not engage in regionalism or divisive politics and works with a “nation first” approach.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that India’s friendships with other countries proved highly useful during the period of conflict.

He noted that earlier India used to import fuel from around 25–26 countries, which has now expanded to nearly 40 countries.

PM Modi said that India’s diplomacy stood out strongly during the global crisis.

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At the Pachpadra refinery inauguration ceremony, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that oil and fuel companies incurred a loss of ₹75,000 crore between April and June.

He said the amount was so large that it could have been used to build a new refinery. The Prime Minister added that this loss was covered from the government exchequer.

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The Prime Minister said that due to the situation created by the war, domestic cooking gas prices could have risen up to ₹2,000.

He added that the government managed the situation effectively, and as a result, the price of an LPG cylinder has been kept at around ₹950.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that due to the war in West Asia, the world faced the biggest energy crisis of the 21st century.

He added that India’s strong resilience helped reduce the impact of this major crisis. According to him, the country managed its resources efficiently during this period.

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The Prime Minister said that the completion of work at such a fast pace after the accident at the refinery two months ago is the result of hard work and dedication.

He added that everyone has shown that no matter how big the challenge is, a new India does not step back from its resolve and does not slow down its pace of progress.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the large turnout despite the intense heat shows the strong public trust in the efforts of the BJP government.

He said he is “indebted to the soil of Rajasthan” for the support. Addressing the gathering, he added that from this land, India has taken a major step towards becoming a developed and self-reliant nation.

PM Modi further said that the day stands as a witness that BJP governments do not stop at laying foundation stones but work day and night to complete projects.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi distributed appointment letters to five youths during the programme held at the Pachpadra refinery in Balotra.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off tankers from the Pachpadra refinery, marking the commencement of dispatch operations from the project.

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After arriving on the stage, Prime Minister Narendra Modi greeted the gathering with folded hands. Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma welcomed the Prime Minister by draping a shawl over his shoulders and presenting him with a traditional jharokha.

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PM Modi interacted with employees working at the refinery and posed for photographs with them.

He also visited the control wing, where engineers briefed him on the crude oil refining process.

He was accompanied by CM Bhajanlal Sharma, Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri and other senior officials.

Ahead of the inauguration, the Prime Minister also watched a documentary showcasing the refinery and its development journey.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi planted a sapling at the Pachpadra refinery campus in Balotra.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is on a visit to Rajasthan on Saturday, reached Pachpadra in Balotra at around 12 noon. He inspected the refinery's control room and interacted with experts.

The Prime Minister is set to inaugurate the refinery shortly and will also virtually lay the foundation stone for Jaipur Metro Phase-2.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi will virtually lay the foundation stone for Jaipur Metro Phase-2 from Pachpadra in Balotra today.

The event is being broadcast live at the Indoor Stadium of SMS Stadium in Jaipur. Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, Urban Development Minister Jhabar Singh Kharra, Jaipur City MP Manju Sharma, local MLAs and a large number of people are present at the venue.

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A large number of BJP workers, youth and women have gathered at the public meeting venue inside the Pachpadra refinery complex in Balotra ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's address.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi is on a visit to Rajasthan on Saturday. He reached Pachpadra in Balotra at around 12 noon and is set to inaugurate the long-awaited Pachpadra refinery project shortly. He will also lay the foundation stone, virtually, for Phase-2 of the Jaipur Metro.

Earlier in the day, PM Modi arrived in Jodhpur at around 10:40 am, where he inaugurated the new airport terminal building.

He also inspected the terminal and launched UDAN 2.0, with officials presenting the scheme's roadmap and features to the Prime Minister.

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According to the Central Government, unused airstrips will be developed to build around 100 new airports under the UDAN 2.0 scheme.

Each airport is expected to cost around ₹100 crore, and a separate budget of ₹12,159 crore has been allocated for the project.

In addition, 200 new helipads will be constructed in Himalayan states, the North-East, and island regions.

An allocation of ₹3,661 crore has been made for this initiative, aimed at improving air connectivity in hilly and remote areas.

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At the Pachpadra refinery in Balotra, entry is being allowed only through Gate No. 7. People are not being permitted inside without a valid pass.

Security arrangements have been tightened, and even water bottles are not allowed to be carried inside the premises. A parking area has been set up near Gate No. 7 for visitors.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate what is being described as the country’s most high-tech refinery today.

Before the event, Rajasthan Minister of State for Industries and Commerce K.K. Vishnoi said that the Prime Minister is gifting both Rajasthan and the nation this refinery project.

He said that PM Modi has launched several skill development programmes to create employment opportunities for youth, and this refinery will generate jobs for lakhs of people.

Taking a dig at the previous Congress government, he said that only foundation stones were laid earlier, but the vision of PM Modi has turned the refinery project into reality today.

The minister added that the project is expected to generate around ₹9,000 crore for Rajasthan and ₹14,000 crore for the country in the initial phase, calling it a milestone for national development.

He further said that the refinery is a boon for western Rajasthan, adding that along with oil, other mineral reserves have also been found in the region, which will take Rajasthan to new heights in the coming years.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi is on a visit to Rajasthan on Saturday. He reached Jodhpur at around 10:40 am in the morning.

During his visit, he inaugurated the new terminal building at the airport and also inspected it. He also launched the UDAN scheme, and a presentation related to it was shown to the Prime Minister.

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