VANGALI (VISAKHAPATNAM dISTRICT): Union Minister of State (Independent charge) for Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan on Thursday asserted that the petro-chemical complex promised to Andhra Pradesh in the AP Reorganisation Act-2014 will become a reality and further assured the State that the capacity of the HPCL-Visakh Refinery would be expanded to 15 million tonnes at an estimated cost of `21,000 crore.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to lay the foundation stone for the petro-chemical complex soon, while the expanstion of the HPCL-VR would be initiated in December, he said. Dharmendra Pradhan along with Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, Union Ministers M Venkaiah Naidu, P Ashok Gajapathi Raju and YS Choudhary laid the foundation stone for the Indian Institute of Petroleum and Energy (IIPE) at Vangali village in Sabbavaram mandal on Thursday. The ministers and the Chief Minister also launched the Prime Minister Ujjwala Yojana Scheme for Andhra Pradesh on the occasion.
Addressing the gathering, Dharmendra Pradhan also said his ministry had decided to invest `60,000 crore with public and private partnership to lift oil and gas reserves in the Krishna-Godavari basin. With these huge investments, the Rajahmundry-Kakinada-Visakhapatnam region would emerge as a Petro Hub and create one lakh employment opportunities, he added. He said that the UPA government had made mere promises during its regime, while the NDA government was turning them into reality for the greater good of the people of Andhra Pradesh.
The minister also announced that HPCL had been working to supply petrol, diesel and LPG through pipelines to every village in Visakhapatnam district. He assured that his ministry would provide cent per cent jobs to successful graduates of IIPM. “Along with the graduate degree, appointment letters would also be issued,” the minister said. As many as 1,200 youth per year would be given industrial-oriented skills at the Skill Development Centre. Speaking on the occasion, Chandrababu Naidu said that with the help of the Prime Minister Ujjawala Yojana scheme, Andhra Pradesh could be declared kerosene-free state by June 2 next year. Already 90 per cent of households in Andhra Pradesh have LPG connections and the rest would be covered under PMUY. Thanking the Centre for its support, he said that the State has been receiving a large number of projects, initiatives and funds from the Centre under the special package.
Union Minister M Venkaiah Naidu praising Chandrababu Naidu’s leadership, reiterated his commitment to support the State government for development of the state in terms of projects and funds.