Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has laid the foundation stone at BPCL-Kochi Refinery's Integrated Refinery Expansion project near Kochi. The expansion, aimed at meeting growing demand while making local automotive fuels more environmentally friendly, has a budget of Rs 14,225 crore.
The project envisages increasing the refining capacity of the Kochi refinery 15.5m metric tonnes per annum, and enabling the production of fuel to comply with  MMTPA, along with Euro IV/ Euro V specifications. The project will also upgrade low quality refinery residue streams to value-added products.
In addition to Singh, a ceremony to mark the occasion was attended by local Governor H R Bhardwaj and Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, along with M Veerapa Moily, Vayalar Ravi, K V Thomas and Lakshmi Panabaaka, ministers from the national Government.