BPCL petrochemical complex proposed in Nellore raises environmental concerns

While the Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) has submitted an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report for its proposed greenfield oil refinery and petrochemical complex at Chevuru and Ravuru villages in SPSR Nellore district and the Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board (APPCB) held a public hearing last year, various organizations are opposing the project citing safety concerns.

Earlier, members of the Human Rights Forum (IHF) had raised objections, saying that the petrochemical project would badly affect their livelihoods and cause massive pollution in the region. They expressed concern over the displacement of four villages (Chennaayapalem, Nandemmapuram, Pamuguntapalem and Salipeta) due to land acquisition for the project.

“Acquiring 6,000 acres for a 9 MMTPA petrochemical complex is unacceptable. CPCL’s 10 MMPTA project in Manali in Tamil Nadu is spread over 800 acres. HPCL’s 15 MMPTA unit in Visakhapatnam covers around 900 acres. IOCL’s 15 MMPTA refinery and petrochemical complex in Odisha’s Paradip is operational 3,350 acres,” said G. Rohith, HRF AP secretary.

Scientists for People (SFP), a non-profit group of scientists fighting for environmental rights, has expressed concern over BPCL’s upcoming greenfield oil refinery and petrochemical complex. While local politicians and government officials are optimistic about the polychrome project, SFP members shed light on the project’s impact on the environment, people’s livelihoods and health hazards.

Former Institute of Chemical Technology (IICT) scientist K. Babu Rao, affiliated with SFP, said: “The proposed petrochemical complex will have a serious impact on the region. The public hearing held in December 2025 remained inconclusive. More worrying are the changes sought by the company in its terms of reference (ToR).”

Giving the example of Louisiana, which produces more than 25 percent of petrochemical products in the USA, he said that the region is called ‘Cancer Alley’ due to the cancer-causing air pollution caused by the spread of the petrochemical industry. “BPCL’s proposed project along with the existing power plants in the area will harm the health of people living in the area,” he said.

Requesting another public hearing in the villages, the scientist said, “An adequate green belt is required to prevent sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide and carcinogenic gases from the refinery, otherwise the villages will be affected by poisonous gases. Chemicals such as benzene and vinyl chloride pose a risk of blood cancer (leukemia). Memory loss, organ disorders, skin and eye diseases may also occur. The government should explain to the public the changes requested by the company in the Specification.”

“Pumping 26,000 cubic meters of seawater per hour (about 6.24 lakh cubic meters per day) will harm the marine ecosystem. When seawater is pumped with huge pumps, fish eggs and small organisms are destroyed. The remaining hot and concentrated salt water after water treatment is discharged into the sea, making fishing impossible in coastal areas.”

According to the SFP member, the explosives storage in this petrochemical unit will be 3.5 times more than the PVC plant that the people of Nellore rejected in 2003. The chemicals used here are highly explosive. The company does not have clarity on its ‘off-site emergency plan’ to protect people in the event of an accident.

During the public hearing, BPCL representatives stated that the PSU will give priority to local youth in providing employment opportunities in the proposed refinery facility to be set up with an investment of Rs 1.03 lakh crore. Officials stated that in addition to job opportunities, CSR funds will be used for the development of the villages, adding that neighborhood women’s services will be used to increase greenery with 17,000 plants.

To talk HinduAPPCB Environmental Engineer (EE) N. Ashok Kumar said: “If the specifications are changed, we will ensure public participation by seeking written representations from persons who have objections. We will share the representations with MoEFCC to consider the same before granting Environmental Clearance (EC).”