The Andhra Pradesh government is planning to promote the establishment of a multi-billion dollar oil and natural gas cracker complex project in the port town of Machilipatnam with formation of a consortium with PSU oil companies as well as private global players, including the Kharashi group of Dubai, as per Business Standard. The project is proposed to have a 10 mln ton capacity requiring an investment of around Rs 1 lakh crore. Machilipatnam is a little over 350 km away from Visakhapatnam down south and located almost at the middle point of AP’s seacoast.
A letter from the state Chief Minister has been approved by the Prime Minister. The proposal also involves inclusion of Machilipatnam into the existing Petroleum Chemicals and Petrochemical Investment Region (PCPIR) centered around Visakhapatnam.
The government has chosen Machilipatnam since it is unlikely to get environmental clearances at the existing PCPIR location due to coastal zoning regulations among other things. The town is also part of the proposed capital city region.
23-Apr-15 
