Chennai's Oil Future: CPCL Plans 14 MTPA Manali Refinery Boost

Chennai Petroleum Corporation Ltd. (CPCL), a subsidiary of Indian Oil Corporation, is exploring the expansion of its Manali refinery in North Chennai from 10.5 MTPA to 14 MTPA, driven by sustained high capacity utilisation.

In Q1 FY25, the refinery operated at 114% capacity. “To maintain operations at 115%, we require investment in additional hardware, tankage, and supporting infrastructure,” said H. Shankar, Managing Director of CPCL. A feasibility study for the expansion commenced last month.

Meanwhile, CPCL provided an update on its upcoming 9 MTPA refinery project at Nagapattinam, a joint venture with IOCL. Over 1,200 acres of land have been acquired, and the revised capital outlay stands at ₹36,400 crore. IOCL holds a 75% stake in the project, with CPCL owning the remaining 25%. A reconfiguration process is underway to enhance the petrochemical intensity index prior to securing final approvals from the ministry.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.