The ambitious 10,000 tonnes per year (10 kilotons per year) green hydrogen generation plant that Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) is building in Panipat has begun construction. Within the following 2.5 years, this huge endeavor is expected to be operational. According to recent developments, IOCL has invited bids from across the world to build the facility next to its Panipat refinery on company-owned property. According to a document seen by News18, with a staggering 10 KTA capacity, this facility is positioned to become one of India’s biggest green hydrogen plants.
A 5 KTA unit at the Mathura refinery and a 2 KTA unit in Panipat are the two green hydrogen facilities that IOCL announced intentions to build in 2021. But according to the most recent news, the Mathura project was abandoned. The capacity of the Panipat facility will now be increased to 10 KTA in accordance with the most current tender parameters.
In India’s ambitious effort to achieve net-zero emissions by 2070—a goal made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the last climate conference (COP) in Glasgow—green hydrogen plays a crucial role. The country hopes to move away from its existing reliance on fossil fuels for the manufacture of hydrogen.
With a total refining capacity of 80.7 million metric tonnes per year (MMTPA), or 1.6 million barrels per day, IOCL is the custodian of 11 refineries spread throughout India. This capacity is the largest of any refining organization in the country. The company also has a vast pipeline network that spans more than 14,000 kilometers, permitting the safe movement of both crude oil and processed goods throughout the country.
The location for the upcoming green hydrogen factory has been selected, and it is located on IOCL-owned property close to the Panipat Refinery Complex, tucked between the Panipat Refinery and the Panipat Naphtha Cracker region. The chosen bidder will be in charge of delivering gaseous green hydrogen to IOCL at the specified delivery location.
In order to produce green hydrogen, IOCL intends to use renewable energy sources and seamlessly incorporate them into the Panipat Refinery’s current hydrogen network. The planned unit is carefully engineered to produce 1,250 kg of green hydrogen per hour while running continuously around-the-clock.
IOCL is now in charge of a refinery in Panipat with a 15.0 MMTPA capacity. Refinery capacity will increase from 15 to 25 MMPTA thanks to an ambitious expansion project that the firm is presently working on. The Panipat Refinery skillfully carried out the BS-VI project in 2018 in accordance with the Auto Fuel Policy of 2025, which emphasizes the production of 100% BS-VI fuels. This historic project involves a thorough overhaul of all gasoline and diesel production to meet BS-VI requirements.
