Centre ready to set up petro corridor in Andhra Pradesh
State IT and Industries Minister Mekapati Goutham Reddy submits petro-chemical project report to Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan in New Delhi
on Wednesday
Amaravati/New Delhi: Industries minister Mekapati Goutham Reddy on Wednesday said the Central government is in favour of establishing a petro-chemical corridor at Kakinada in the state.
He said the corridor will be set up at a cost of Rs 25,000 crore.
The minister presented the project report on the petrochemical complex to the Centre.
"Met Dharmendra Pradhan and proposed revival plan for PCPIR project in AP. This plan will pave the way for all round industrial development coupled with employment in the region. Also speedy implementation of VCIC corridor by our government to give fillip to investments," said Goutham Reddy.
On completing the project, he believes that as many as 50 lakh jobs can be created, including investments flowing into the petro-chemical field in the coming 2-3 years.
Reddy said up to Rs 30,000 crore of investment can be expected in the East coast corridor.
Including the participation of allied industries and the plans of the state and Central governments getting executed as decided, the minister said up to Rs 2 lakh crore investments are expected.
The industries minister is also anticipating investments in the ethanol sector, considering the Centre raising ethanol blending in petrol to 20 per cent from 10 per cent recently.
Gautham Reddy, chief secretary Aditya Nath Das and special CS, industries and commerce, R Karikal Valaven met Dharmendra Pradhan and Tarun Kapoor, secretary, ministry of petroleum and natural gas and had detailed discussion on establishment of petrochemical cracker complex in the state by HPCL-GAIL consortium, given the recent regulatory changes.
Goutham Reddy said the Centre gave the green signal for a Rs 1,000 crore greenfield refinery to produce ethanol from molasses arriving from sugar factories.
Likewise, the state and Central officials will prepare a plan for the viability gap funding.
AP chief secretary and industries secretary will prepare the plan of action and the project work will start after receiving the Centre's assent.
Following his meeting with the minister, Pradhan said, "Delightful meeting Goutham Reddy. We had detailed discussions on strengthening oil, gas and petrochemical infrastructure in the state to give a boost to employment and economic growth."