HPCL commissions upgrade to Visakh Refinery

Aligning fully with the Prime Minister’s vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat, several critical project equipment were indigenously manufactured, thereby strengthening India’s refining self-reliance. This facility showcases engineering scale, housing among the world’s heaviest three LC-Max reactors of approximately 2200 t each.

With a capacity of 3.55 million tpy, the RUF employs advanced LC-Max based residue hydrocracking technology to achieve about 93% conversion of bottom oils into high-value products. The Visakh Refinery will now have the capability to enhance its distillate yield by up to 10% from pre-VRMP (Visakh Refinery Modernisation Project) levels.

The gross refining margins (GRMs) of the Visakh Refinery are set to increase substantially owing to a superior product slate, flexibility to process heavier and opportunity crudes, and higher value realisation per barrel. The increase in middle-distillate output reduces the gap between HPCL’s HSD marketing and refining volumes, lowers dependence on external sourcing, strengthens the supply chain, and enhances profitability.

Improved heat integration and process efficiency have reduced the refinery’s energy intensity index (EII), lowering operating costs while advancing sustainability objectives. The Nelson Complexity Index of the Visakh Refinery now stands at an impressive 11.6, positioning it among India’s most advanced deep-conversion refineries.

Complementing the physical commissioning, HPCL has deployed the RUF (LC-Max) Digital Suite – an industry-first in Indian refineries. The suite integrates real-time monitoring, predictive analytics using proprietary thermodynamic models, and AI-driven optimisation to ensure stable, efficient, and optimised operations.

Read the article online at: https://www.hydrocarbonengineering.com/refining/08012026/hpcl-commissions-upgrade-to-visakh-refinery/