Ratnagiri Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited (RRPCL) Project

May 3, 2023

The Maharashtra government has proposed the Ratnagiri Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited (RRPCL) project, which is touted as the world’s largest single location refinery complex. The refinery is expected to be set up in Barsu village in the coastal Ratnagiri district of Maharashtra. The joint venture partners for this project include Saudi Aramco, Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), Indian Oil Corporation Limited, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited, and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited. The project is estimated to cost around Rs. 3 lakh crore and would require 6,200 acres of land from 14 villagers in Ratnagiri and neighbouring Sindhudurg districts. It is expected to make India self-sufficient in the petrochemical sector, reducing the country’s dependence on imports, and boosting the local economy.

Shift from Nanar to Barsu

The project was initially planned to come up at Nanar, about 20 kilometres from Barsu. However, due to strong opposition from the locals and environmental activists, the it was denotified in 2019. Barsu was suggested as an alternative site instead of Nanar.

Criticism of the Project

Hundreds of residents from Barsu-Solgaon and neighbouring villages have been protesting the government’s decision as they are concerned about the potential impact on the environment and the livelihoods of local communities. The Konkan region has large mango orchids as well as jackfruit and cashew plantations, making it ecologically sensitive. The villagers also expressed concern about the potential health hazards posed by the refinery and petrochemical unit, which is expected to emit a large amount of pollutants. Critics are currently calling for the project to be shifted to more arid regions like Marathwada and Vidarbha.

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