Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday inaugurated India’s most advanced integrated refinery-cum-petrochemical complex at Pachpadra in Rajasthan’s Balotra district, highlighting the country’s ability to overcome the global energy crisis triggered by the conflict in West Asia. He said strategic planning, strong diplomacy and timely policy decisions ensured uninterrupted fuel supplies across the country despite severe international disruptions.
The Prime Minister reached Pachpadra after inaugurating the newly built terminal at Jodhpur Airport. During his visit to the refinery, he inspected the modern control room, interacted with engineers and technical staff, flagged off fuel tankers, distributed appointment letters to selected candidates and virtually launched the Jaipur Metro Phase-2 project.
Addressing a public gathering, Modi said the conflict in West Asia had created one of the biggest global energy challenges in recent history, forcing many countries to struggle with fuel shortages and rising prices. However, he said India managed to avoid similar disruptions by responding quickly and strengthening its energy strategy.
He stated that the government expanded India’s crude oil sourcing network by increasing the number of supplier countries, allowing uninterrupted fuel availability even when global supply chains were affected. According to him, India’s diplomatic outreach played a crucial role in maintaining stable energy imports during the crisis.
The Prime Minister also said the Centre prevented a steep increase in domestic LPG prices despite rising global costs. He added that oil marketing companies absorbed significant financial losses during the crisis with government support to protect consumers from sharp price hikes.
Calling the Pachpadra refinery a major milestone for Rajasthan and the country, Modi said the project would create thousands of employment opportunities while strengthening India’s energy security and petrochemical manufacturing capacity. He praised engineers and workers for completing the project despite earlier challenges and described it as an example of India’s determination to finish large infrastructure projects.
Highlighting other development initiatives launched during his Rajasthan visit, Modi said the new Jodhpur airport terminal and the expanded UDAN scheme would improve regional connectivity, promote tourism and generate employment. He also said several infrastructure projects launched in the state would contribute to Rajasthan’s long-term economic growth and strengthen India’s journey towards becoming a developed and self-reliant nation.
