The North News
Chandigarh, December 23
Punjab’s Industries and Commerce Minister Sanjeev Arora has underlined the state government’s support for major industrial investments, highlighting expansion plans by HPCL–Mittal Energy Limited (HMEL) as a key pillar of Punjab’s growth strategy. Speaking on Tuesday, Arora said HMEL’s wholly owned subsidiary, HMEL Organics Pvt Ltd, commissioned a bio-ethanol plant in 2024 and has proposed a forward integration project in fine chemicals involving phased investment of more than ₹2,600 crore. The expansion is expected to create about 500 additional jobs, add roughly ₹2,400 crore in annual turnover and boost exports.
He said the Aam Aadmi Party-led government, under national convenor Arvind Kejriwal and Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, remained committed to strengthening Punjab’s industrial ecosystem through policy stability and investor-friendly governance. HMEL’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Prabh Das said the company planned further investment in its refinery and petrochemical complex in Bathinda. He noted that HMEL produces petrol, diesel, LPG and aviation turbine fuel, alongside polymers such as polyethylene and polypropylene. Das said uninterrupted operations over the years reflected the state’s proactive policies and ease of doing business, adding that Punjab’s industrial growth would open new opportunities for entrepreneurs and young people.
The minister described HMEL as a landmark public–private partnership between Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (a Navratna and Fortune 500 public sector company) and Mittal Energy Investment Pte Ltd of Singapore, part of the Lakshmi N Mittal group. He assured the company of full government support for future expansion.
HMEL’s refinery and integrated petrochemical complex, spread across about 2,000 acres at Phulokheri village in Bathinda district, began refinery operations in 2011. The addition of a petrochemical unit in 2023 significantly increased value addition and downstream industrial activity in the state, officials said.
According to the minister, HMEL records an annual turnover of around ₹90,000 crore and contributes approximately ₹2,100 crore each year to the Punjab exchequer through taxes. The project employs nearly 10,000 people directly and indirectly, making it one of the largest industrial employers in the state. HMEL also plays a major role in meeting fuel demand across north India and is the country’s second-largest polymer producer, supplying about 14% of national demand.
Reiterating the government’s pro-industry stance, the minister said Punjab would continue to facilitate large investments through time-bound approvals and an investor-centric approach to ensure sustained industrial growth and employment generation.
Senior HMEL executives and state officials, including representatives from Punjab Invest and the Punjab Development Commission, were present at the briefing.
