West Bengal chief promises land to unlock Indian Oil's Haldia petrochemical expansion

West Bengal’s chief minister, Suvendu Adhikari, pledged state assistance to Indian Oil Corporation for acquiring land to advance its stalled petrochemical complex adjacent to the Haldia refinery. The project needs a total of 175 acres; 85 acres have already been allocated by the Haldia Development Authority, while the remaining parcel is expected to come from the Haldia Dock Complex of Syama Prasad Mookherjee Port. Adhikari said he has raised the issue with port authorities to ensure the land becomes available.

An Indian Oil official indicated that once the land issue is resolved, the company will forward the expansion plan to its board for consideration. The expansion would replicate the integrated model used at the Paradip refinery, adding downstream petrochemical capacity to a refinery that now processes nearly 9 million tonnes annually. Land constraints have long hampered the project, with earlier attempts to obtain the HFCL-held parcel failing. Securing the land could revitalize the Haldia site and boost regional industrial activity.