Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) reported a fire incident at the HPCL Rajasthan Refinery Limited (HRRL) on April 20, 2026. The fire, localized in the heat exchanger stack of the Crude Distillation Unit, was swiftly brought under control with no casualties reported. As a result, the scheduled dedication of the refinery by the Hon’ble Prime Minister has been postponed. The company is currently investigating the cause and assessing the overall impact.
Incident Overview
On April 20, 2026, a fire incident occurred within the Crude Distillation Unit (CDU) section of the HPCL Rajasthan Refinery Limited (HRRL) facility. Initial assessments suggest the blaze was triggered by a hydrocarbon leak from a valve or flange located within the heat exchanger circuit.
Safety and Operational Status
The fire was contained strictly to the heat exchanger stack. Emergency response protocols were activated immediately, and the Crude Distillation Unit (CDU), Vacuum Distillation Unit (VDU), and all associated sections were promptly isolated. Fortunately, there has been no loss of life or injury to personnel, and the refinery infrastructure remains structurally safe and unaffected in all other areas.
Project Update and Next Steps
Due to this incident, the planned dedication ceremony for the refinery by the Hon’ble Prime Minister, originally scheduled for April 21, 2026, has been officially postponed. A new date for the event will be communicated in due course.
Impact Assessment
The company has initiated a comprehensive investigation to determine the exact cause of the leak and to implement necessary remedial actions. While the assessment of financial and operational consequences is ongoing, HPCL has stated that the incident is not expected to be material to the company’s overall operations.
Source: BSE
