Photo Source: Babushahi Bureau
Sanjeev Arora reaffirms full support for HMEL expansion, highlights major industrial contribution
Babushahi Bureau
Chandigarh, December 23, 2025: Punjab Cabinet Minister for Industries & Commerce, Investment Promotion, Power and NRI Affairs, Sh. Sanjeev Arora, on Tuesday underscored the significant contribution of HPCL–Mittal Energy Ltd. (HMEL) to Punjab’s industrial growth and outlined the company’s ambitious future expansion plans. He reiterated the Punjab Government’s firm commitment—under the visionary leadership of National Convenor Sh. Arvind Kejriwal and Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann—to support large-scale investments and strengthen the state’s industrial ecosystem.
Addressing the media, HMEL Managing Director and CEO Shri Prabh Das announced plans to further invest in a refinery and petrochemical complex at Bathinda. He said HMEL produces petrol, diesel, LPG and ATF, along with polymers such as polyethylene and polypropylene. Praising the cooperation of the people of Punjab and the state government, he said that construction and operations of the massive complex have never been disrupted, attributing this to proactive government policies and ease of doing business.
Commending Minister Sanjeev Arora’s leadership, Prabh Das described him as dynamic, reform-oriented and development-focused, expressing confidence that Punjab’s industrial growth under his guidance would create new opportunities for entrepreneurs, industries and youth.
Sh. Sanjeev Arora said HMEL is a landmark public–private partnership between Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL)—a Navratna and Fortune 500 PSU—and Mittal Energy Investment Pte. Ltd., Singapore (Lakshmi N. Mittal Group), and has emerged as one of Punjab’s most prominent industrial success stories. He assured full government support for HMEL’s proposed expansion in the state.
The Minister noted that HMEL’s refinery and integrated petrochemical complex, spread over nearly 2,000 acres at village Phulokheri in Talwandi Sabo tehsil of Bathinda district, began refinery operations in 2011. The addition of the petrochemical facility in 2023 has significantly enhanced value addition and downstream industrial activity in Punjab.
Highlighting HMEL’s economic impact, Sh. Sanjeev Arora said the company currently records an annual turnover of around Rs. 90,000 crore and contributes approximately Rs. 2,100 crore annually to the state exchequer. The project provides employment to nearly 10,000 people, directly and indirectly, making it one of Punjab’s largest industrial employers.
He further pointed out that HMEL plays a crucial role in meeting North India’s fuel requirements and is the second-largest producer of polymers in India, catering to about 14 per cent of the country’s total polymer demand.
Referring to recent developments, the Minister said that HMEL’s wholly owned subsidiary HMEL Organics Pvt. Ltd. (HOPL) commissioned a bio-ethanol plant in 2024 adjacent to the refinery. Building on this, HOPL has proposed a forward integration project in fine chemicals with a phased investment of over Rs. 2,600 crore.
The proposed expansion is expected to generate around 500 additional direct and indirect jobs, add nearly Rs. 2,400 crore to annual turnover, and boost exports—further positioning Punjab as a hub for petrochemicals and value-added manufacturing.
Reiterating the state’s pro-industry approach, Sh. Sanjeev Arora said the Punjab Government remains committed to facilitating such investments through progressive policies, time-bound approvals and an investor-friendly ecosystem to ensure sustained industrial growth and employment generation.
Senior officials present at the press conference included Shri Prabh Das, Shri Sanjeev Malhotra (Vice President, HMEL), Shri Vishav Bandhu (Chief State Coordinator, HMEL), Ms. Seema Bansal (Vice Chairperson, Punjab Development Commission) and Shri Amit Dhaka, IAS (CEO, Punjab Invest).