HPCL considers advancing refinery expansion

State-run refiner Hindustan Petroleum Corp. Ltd. (HPCL) is considering investing close to Rs110 billion (US$2.26 billion) in a capacity expansion project. Company officials said HPCL wants to advance its schedule for doubling the output of its 150,000 barrel per day (bpd) refinery in the town of Vishakapatnam (Vizag) in southern India by about two years to 2013. HPCL is planning to add 120,000 bpd of capacity to its existing installed capacity and wants to raise throughput to at least 300,000 bpd in the next four years. (June 26, 2009)