Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) has achieved a global milestone by commissioning the world's first LC-Max (Low Carbon Maximum Residue Upgradation) facility at its Visakhapatnam (Vizag) refinery. The project represents a transformative leap in refinery technology, enabling the conversion of low-value residual oils into high-demand petroleum products such as diesel and jet fuel.
The LC-Max facility, developed at a total investment of ₹31,407 crore, has a processing capacity of 3.55 million tonnes per annum (MTPA). The technology converts approximately 93% of low-value residue oils — heavy, sludge-like byproducts of crude oil distillation — into cleaner, commercially valuable fuels, including diesel and aviation turbine fuel (ATF/jet fuel). This drastically reduces refinery waste and enhances overall crude oil utilisation.
The Vizag refinery, one of HPCL's flagship facilities, processes approximately 8.33 MTPA of crude oil. The addition of the LC-Max unit significantly boosts the refinery's distillate yield and revenue generation capacity. The technology is proprietary and represents years of collaboration between HPCL's engineers and global technology partners.
The commissioning of this facility positions India as a global leader in advanced refining technology. By maximising the extraction of valuable fuels from every barrel of crude oil, India reduces import dependency on refined petroleum products and strengthens energy security. The project is aligned with India's National Energy Security goals and contributes to the government's vision of enhancing domestic refining capacity to 450 MTPA by 2030.