BPCL wins NPEA award for Bargarh ethanol refinery

India’s oil and gas conglomerate Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) has been conferred the National Project Excellence Award (NPEA) 2025 in the “One of its Kind” category for its pioneering 2G–1G Integrated Bio-Ethanol Refinery at Bargarh in Odisha. The award recognises the project’s innovative integrated configuration and excellence in planning and execution.

The honour was presented at the 33rd Global Symposium and the 7th World Project Management Forum Meet 2025, held in New Delhi, which brought together project management professionals and industry leaders from across the country.

The Bargarh bio-ethanol refinery represents a significant step forward in India’s push towards sustainable and cleaner fuels. By integrating second-generation (2G) bio-ethanol technology, which uses agricultural residue and non-food biomass, with conventional first-generation (1G) bio-ethanol processes, the facility is designed to improve operational efficiency, optimise feedstock utilisation, and reduce environmental impact. This hybrid approach positions the project as a model for future biofuel developments in India.

According to BPCL, the award underscores the project’s strong conceptual design, meticulous planning, and effective execution, establishing the Bargarh refinery as a benchmark in the country’s evolving biofuels ecosystem.

The company wrote, “This achievement stands as a testament to the dedication and collaboration of the E&P Biofuels team, supported by the guidance and encouragement of our leadership. We look forward to achieving many more milestones as we progress towards commissioning of the 2G plant.”

BPCL is now preparing for the commissioning of the 2G bio-ethanol plant, which is expected to substantially augment India’s biofuel production capacity and support national goals related to energy security, ethanol blending, and sustainability.

Earlier, BPCL’s Bina Refinery and the Vadinar–Bina Pipeline (VBPL) were also honoured by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) with the “Energy Efficient Unit” award for sustained energy efficiency initiatives.