Rs 1.40 Lakh Crore of Oil & Gas Investments in Odisha: Dharmendra Pradhan

Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said Odisha is going to be the epicentre of the petroleum and gas sector, with around Rs 1.40 lakh crore investments proposed under various oil and gas projects in the state. "Around Rs 1.40 lakh crore of investments have been proposed under various oil and gas projects in Odisha. While Rs 43,000 crore has been invested in the Paradip Refinery alone, creating a need for skilling youth for the future jobs in the sector," said Pradhan.

He said refinery expansion, raw material for textiles, petrochemicals, polymers, pet coke gasification, LNG terminal, LPG terminals and several other projects are underway. Pradhan, also the Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Minister, on Sunday inaugurated the main campus of the Skill Development Institute (SDI), Bhubaneswar.

"As promised, I have met my timelines of ensuring that the campus gets ready in 2019. Odisha got the Petroleum Ministry`s first SDI in the state capital with Indian Oil as the anchor investor and managing company," said Pradhan. The institute through its dual education system combining apprenticeships in industries and vocational education will pave the path for the youths in the country and Odisha, he said.