Bhubaneswar: Union Home Minister Amit Shah is set to visit western Odisha on July 4-5, where he will inaugurate Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited’s (BPCL) advanced integrated 1G and 2G bio-ethanol refinery in Baragada.
According to Bargarh MP Pradeep Purohit, Shah will arrive at Jharsuguda Airport on July 4 and proceed directly to Baragada for the inauguration of the Rs 1,775 crore project. He will then head to Sambalpur for a series of programmes, including a public meeting, and stay overnight there before returning on July 5 after further engagements.
In Sambalpur on July 5, Shah is scheduled to participate in government programmes, closed-door organisational meetings with BJP leaders, and a public rally. BJP insiders described the visit as a major morale booster for party workers, who are enthusiastic about the Union Minister’s arrival.
The BPCL facility at Baulsingha village in Bargarh is India’s first fully integrated 1G and 2G ethanol refinery, with a total capacity of 200 km per day (100 KLPD each from first-generation grain-based and second-generation lignocellulosic technology using rice straw). Developed under the Pradhan Mantri JI-VAN Yojana, the plant supports the national E20 ethanol blending target and the broader biofuels policy by converting agricultural residue into fuel-grade ethanol, thereby reducing pollution from stubble burning while generating employment and promoting green energy in the region.
BPCL has already flagged off initial 1G ethanol shipments from the refinery earlier this year, and the 2G unit has been commissioned, marking significant progress in Odisha’s emerging ethanol ecosystem.
Political observers note that Shah’s visit comes at a crucial time for the BJP in Odisha. It is likely to energise the party cadre and influence local political dynamics as the state prepares for next year’s three-tier panchayat elections. The focus on development projects like the ethanol plant is expected to highlight central government initiatives in infrastructure, employment, and sustainable growth in western Odisha.
