Chennai Petroleum to Expand Manali Refinery Capacity
Chennai Petroleum Corporation Limited (CPCL), a subsidiary of Indian Oil Corporation, plans to expand its Manali refinery's crude oil refining capacity from 210,000 barrels per day (bpd) to 280,000 bpd. The expansion is part of CPCL’s strategy outlined in its 2025/2026 report but no timeline was provided for the project. CPCL also plans to reconfigure its Cauvery Basin Refinery from a traditional refinery into a petrochemicals complex, reflecting growing demand for petrochemical and specialty chemicals. The shift aligns with broader trends in India's energy sector, where refining capacity is expected to grow by 15% by 2030 due to increased investments. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), oil refining investment has surged alongside solar PV projects over the past five years, contributing significantly to overall growth in Indian energy infrastructure.