Paradip Oil Refinery dedicated to Nation, Modi steals the Show

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in the presence of Governor Dr. SC Jamir and Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik, dedicated the Paradip Oil Refinery to the nation, marking the commissioning of the project, which was conceptualised years ago.

Narendra Modi was greeted by a massive crowd, mostly from BJP, who overshadowed the huge BJD crowd present at the venue. While people listened to Modi with rapt attention, CM Naveen Patnaik’s speech was interrupted by too much noise. The CM’s mike was not properly audible. He looked and sounded visibly upset, while Modi stole the thunder. As party flags were not allowed inside the venue, that spoiled the BJD game plan.

The ‘Modi Modi’ chant and huge support for Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, have stunned the BJD cadres who thronged to the venue in large number. The response for Modi and cold shoulder to CM Naveen Patnaik, is seen as a failure of Odisha Minister Dr. Damodar Rout, who was assigned the task of countering the BJP onslaught in Paradip.

Among others, Union Ministers Jual Oram and Dharmendra Pradhan, State Ministers Dr. Damodar Rout and Debi Prasad Mishra, Lok Sabha MP Dr. Kulamani Samal, Rajya Sabha MP Ranjib Biswal, B Ashok, Chairman, Indian Oil, Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury, Energy Adviser to the Bangladesh prime minister, Dr Anoma Gamage, Dy Minister of Oil & Gas & Cabinet Minister of Public Enterprises of Sri Lanka were present at the occasion.

In his brief welcome address, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan appreciated the gesture of PM Modi for being part of the inauguration ceremony and also called CM Naveen Patnaik a ‘popular’ CM. He also recalled the efforts of legends of Odisha as well as former PM AB Vajpayee. Pradhan also addressed Dr. Damodar Rout as a ‘fatherly figure’.

In his speech, CM Naveen Patnaik thanked PM Modi and then PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee. At the same time, he paid rich tribute to late Biju Patnaik who worked hard for this project and listed the efforts and achievements of his own government. He requested the PM for giving special status to Odisha.

PM Modi began his speech in pure Odia language and paid tribute to Lord Jagannath. He also paid homage to legends of Odisha such as Utkalmani Gopabandhu Das, Utkal Gourav Madhu Sudan Das, freedom fighter Veer Surendra Sai, Utkal Keshari Harekrushna Mahatab, late Nabakrushna Choudhury, Rama Devi, Malati Devi, Prana Krushna Parija, late Biju Patnaik etc. Modi also invoked Sudra Muni Sarala Das in his speech and hailed the Odia culture and heritage, which included maritime history and ‘Boita Bandana’ celebrations. He also called Odisha as the ‘Land of Sun God’.

Modi termed the Paradip Oil Refinery as a game changer project. “It will change the fate of Odisha and provide enough employment to youth of the state. In addition, Paradip will take credit being the major source of energy in India”, he said. “Paradip Oil Refinery has set a new precedent in ‘Make In India’ initiative, as the technology used here is completely indigenous and our Engineers/Technicians deserve all credit for this achievement,” he added.

PM Modi took a dig at the Congress for owning up all projects. “The Congress seeks to claim all projects saying we started it whenever I go to launch/inaugurate/dedicate those. I feel sad that key projects took longer than expected, thus denying employment opportunities to the youth and halting the development of the country. We must ensure that all projects are completed on time and things must be expedited. My government is committed to achieve this objective, he said.

PM Modi praised Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan for his good work as the Petroleum Minister, which is seen as a big endorsement for the BJP leader to become the CM candidate of Odisha.

The oil refinery will pave the way for second industrial revolution in eastern India. The Paradip Oil refinery project is said to be one of the most modern coastal export oriented processing units of Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) with a future petrochemicals unit spread over 3,344 acre. IOCL has invested around Rs 35,000 crore in the project. The oil refinery is the first zero-residue refinery of India.

Paradip Oil Refinery will produce 5.6 million tons per annum of diesel, 3.79 million tons of petrol and 1.96 million tons of kerosene/ATF. Besides, 790,000 tons of LPG and 1.21 million tons of petcoke would also be produced. As of now, Paradip Refinery will produce petrol and diesel of BS-IV quality and later will switch to BS-VI quality to comply with the Auto Fuel Policy.

A polypropylene plant is under implementation at a cost of Rs 3,150 crore, which is scheduled for completion by 2017-18. The refinery will also set an Ethylene Recovery Unit /Mono-Ethylene Glycol (MEG) at an estimated cost of Rs 3,800 crore. These units are expected to be completed by 2020-21.