India has intensified security and threat surveillance at major petroleum refineries and production facilities located near the western border, according to officials familiar with the matter. Measures include camouflaging critical infrastructure and activating air defence systems.
The enhanced security covers installations in Gujarat, Punjab, and Rajasthan—sites that collectively represent over 38% of India’s 257 million tonnes per annum refining capacity. A senior official confirmed, “All security protocols are operational, and both law enforcement and refinery operators are prepared to counter any hostile activity.”
High-value assets under heightened protection include Reliance Industries’ twin Jamnagar refineries, Nayara Energy’s Vadinar facility in Gujarat, HPCL Mittal’s Bathinda refinery in Punjab, and Vedanta’s Barmer oil fields in Rajasthan. Officials also emphasized that air defence systems are on high alert, with India among the few nations equipped to intercept ballistic threats.
Though state governments oversee law and order, the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) provides additional protection for critical installations such as refineries, pipelines, oil fields, and storage depots. Security audits have been completed, and protective measures significantly upgraded.
Facilities in Jamnagar and Panipat, both guarded by CISF, are under especially stringent surveillance due to their strategic locations. The Vadinar refinery, located just a few kilometers from the sea border, is flagged as particularly sensitive. “All emergency protocols are active,” said an official involved in the security operations.
Since Wednesday, CISF has been conducting ongoing review meetings to ensure readiness across refineries and airports. Substantial armed personnel now guard refinery premises, while local ports and surrounding areas are monitored by other security agencies.
Gujarat alone houses three major refineries, including two operated by RIL in Jamnagar—one with 33 MMTPA capacity for the domestic market and another 35.2 MMTPA unit in a special economic zone. Nayara Energy’s 20 MMTPA refinery in Vadinar, in which Russian firm Rosneft holds a 49% stake, is also under close watch. Despite geopolitical ties, authorities remain on high alert.
Other strategic assets include HPCL Mittal’s 11.3 MMTPA refinery in Bathinda, Indian Oil’s 13.7 MMTPA Koyali facility in Gujarat, and IOC’s 15 MMTPA Panipat refinery in Haryana. The Ministry of Home Affairs has been conducting preparedness drills, while state governments implement camouflage protocols to protect critical infrastructure.
As of April 2024, India’s refining capacity has grown from 215 MMTPA in 2014 to 257 MMTPA, spanning 19 public-sector, three private-sector, and one joint-venture refinery. Ranked among the world’s top five refining countries and the seventh-largest exporter of refined petroleum products, India’s infrastructure—led by facilities like the Jamnagar refinery—continues to hold strategic and economic importance.
