PM Modi to Inaugurate Barmer Pachpadra Refinery in Rajasthan This January

Jaipur: The Barmer-based Pachpadra Refinery in Rajasthan is set to make rapid progress as the state government has approved a revised budget for the project. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to inaugurate the refinery in January 2026, marking a major milestone in Rajasthan’s energy sector.

The government has announced that the first phase of the refinery will begin trial operations this month. While full commercial production is expected to start in July 2026, the inauguration by PM Modi will officially dedicate the project to the nation this January.

Project Cost and Approval
Minister Jogaram Patel informed the media that the company HRRL submitted a revised cost proposal on 24 July 2025. To ensure transparency, the state government sought evaluation from the central government enterprise MECON Limited. Following MECON’s assessment and review by a special state committee, the cabinet approved the revised project cost of approximately ₹80,000 crore, prioritizing public interest.

Reasons for Delay
The refinery has been under development for nearly 15 years. Initially, an MoU signed on 18 April 2017 had set the project completion deadline as 31 October 2022. However, COVID-19 disruptions and technical challenges caused delays. With the revised budget and trial operations beginning this year, the project is expected to make significant progress on the ground.

The Pachpadra Refinery is expected to boost local employment, strengthen Rajasthan’s energy infrastructure, and contribute significantly to the state and national economy.