Centre mulls building several refineries, not one UAE-Saudi plant

"The role of Maharashtra government is crucial in acquiring the land," the source said

The cental government is considering building several refineries instead of a single mega plant planned with Saudi Aramco and Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), due to challenges in acquiring land, three sources familiar with the matter said.

Hurdles in land purchases are one of the key reasons for sluggish infrastructure development in the country.

Aramco and ADNOC joined a consortium of state-run firms in 2018 to set up a 1.2 million barrels-per-day coastal refinery and petrochemical plant in western Maharashtra, seeking a reliable outlet for their oil. Delays in acquiring a 15,000-acre land parcel have almost stalled the project, initially planned