Set up by L&T Energy Hydrocarbon (LTEH), the Residue Upgradation Facility (RUF) at HPCL’s Visakh Refinery in Visakhapatnam was inaugurated in December 2024. The RUF is part of a multi-year modernisation project that HPCL has undertaken for the refinery. 

 
The inauguration was attended by several dignitaries from HPCL, Engineers India Limited (EIL) and L&T, including Rajneesh Narang (Director - Finance & acting CMD – HPCL), S Bharatan (Director – Refineries, HPCL) and S Balakumar (Director – Projects, EIL) and Subramanian Sarma (President & Whole-time Director (Energy) – L&T).

 

The dignitaries were welcomed by Ajay Jain (EVP & Head – Onshore EPC, LTEH). They then toured the RUF site, inaugurating the various facilities.

 

Significant milestones included the pre-commissioning of RUF facilities and the successful no-load Motor Run Test (MRT) of both Compressor A & B units. Also inaugurated were the Pitch Handling Unit, delivered by L&T’s Minerals & Metals vertical, the Semi-regenerative Reforming unit, Control Room, and the Main Substation SS-84.
 
The RUF project exemplifies LTEH’s comprehensive engineering and execution excellence on every front: project management, residual process engineering, detailed design, hazard & operability and safety integrity protocols, equipment procurement, installation, testing, performance guarantee test runs, and commissioning.

 

The completion of the project reflects the collaborative approach of the teams from the three entities: L&T, HPCL and EIL. Crucially, it underscores L&T’s expertise in delivering complex hydrocarbon projects and its commitment to enhancing India’s energy infrastructure.
 
With the inauguration, the RUF now approaches full commissioning and is poised to significantly boost the operational efficiency and production capabilities of Visakh Refinery.