Dharmendra Pradhan draws the blueprint of refinery

For almost three years, Barmer refinery project was hanging fire after Gehlot government's illprepared announcement in a haste. Rajasthan government was not willing to execute the project which would have burdened the exchequer with an interest free loan of Rs 37000 crore to HPCL. The refiner HPCL was not ready to increase its financial burden for a region which  doesn't have a proper downstream market. 

Just then petroleum minister Dharmendra Pradhan is intervened on request of Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje and brought both state government and HPCL on negotiation table. His rapport with Raje worked and the deal was renegotiated saving Rs 25,000 crore for Rajasthan government and converting the refinery project into an integrated petrochemical complex with allied plastic and rubber industry adding value to the refinery project. 

The credit for this win-win situation goes to this dynamic minister who is known for revolutionising the way rural women cook through the Ujjwala project, which empowers them with smokeless LPG gas stoves.

Pradhan, a close confidant of Prime Minister Narendra Modi was also instrumental in persuading PM to inaugurate the commencement of work at refinery.