 Minister Sri Alphonse Kannandanam, Honourable Minister for Agriculture Government of Kerala, Sri V.S. Sunil Kumar, Honourable Member of Parliament, Prof. K.V. Thomas, Honourable Member of Parliament, Prof. Richard Hay and Honourable MLA, Sri V.P. Sajindran. The integrated refinery expansion complex IREP has been constructed at an approximate cost of Rs 16,504 crore and it has transformed Kotshi refinery as the largest public sector refinery with world-class facilities. The dedication also marks a milestone of making eco-friendly barred state for fuels accessible not only to Kerala but to the whole of South India. This has paid way to BPCS foray into petrochemical and augmentation of RPG storage. Ladies and gentlemen, we are truly blessed by the presence of Sri Narendra Modi Ji, our Honourable Prime Minister, the much-worship leader of the masses and a well-respected global statesman who will dedicate these major facilities and initiate further development. Let's now welcome this great son of our country to our home state Kerala with a punnada, the traditional shawl of Kerala. I would request the Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Dr. M.M. Kutty to do the honours. Welcome, Honourable Prime Minister, to the presence of our dignitaries with a punnada. As a mark of our respect and gratitude for gracing this occasion with this towering presence, let's also present a Memento to the Honourable Prime Minister, Chairman and Managing Director of BPCS, Sri D. Rajkumar will now present the Memento to the Honourable Prime Minister. We are indeed fortunate to have many distinguished dignitaries here to grace today's function. May I request the Chairman and Managing Director of BPCS to welcome the Honourable Governor of Kerala, Justice Sri P. Sadashivam. Happy Welcome, Sir. The Honourable Chief Minister of Kerala, Sri P. Narayavijan. Kerala Tinde Priyankarnaya Mukhamundri, Sri P. Narayavijan. Sri Dharmendra Pradham, the Honourable Union Minister of Kerala. Sri Dharmendra Pradham, the Honourable Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas and Minister for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship. Sri Dharmendra Pradham, Honourable Union Minister of State for Tourism with independent charge Sri Alphonse Kannandanam. Our own Nathu Garnaya Bhomanavata Kedramandri, Sri Alphonse Kannandanam. Honourable Member of Parliament of Hernogulam Constituency and former Union Minister, Prof. K. Thomaizizia. Happy Welcome, Sir. Honourable Member of Parliament, Sri Alphonse Kannandanam. Honourable Member of Parliament of Hernogulam Constituency and former Union Minister, Prof. K. Thomaizia. Happy Welcome, Sir. Honourable Member of Parliament, Sri Richard Hei. Prof. Richard Hei. And finally Honourable Emily of Kunatanad Constituency, Sri B. P. Sajinrin. Thank you, Sir. May now request Sri Dharmendra Pradham, the Dynamic Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas and Minister for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship. To welcome the dignitaries and your guest gathering. Namaskaram. The most popular leader of the country. Honourable Prime Minister, Sri Narendra Modiji. Honourable Governor, Justice, Peace, Sadashivam. Honourable Chief Minister, Sri Pinaray Vijayanji. Honourable Union Minister for Tourism, my friend Alphonse. Honourable Member of Parliament, Prof. K. V. Thomaizji. Honourable Member of Parliament, Prof. Richard Hei. Honourable Emily, Sri B. P. Sajinranji. Senior Officials of Minister of Petroleum. BPCL, IOSHL, Government of Kerala. Family members of BPCL, Employees of Kochi Refinery. Friends from media, ladies and gentlemen. Today is a historic occasion when we have Honourable Prime Minister with us to dedicate the nation, the integrated refinery expansion project of Kochi Refinery and mounted storage vessels of IOSHL LPG bottling plant in Kochi. Today Honourable Prime Minister will also lay the foundation stone of petrochemical complex in Kochi Refinery and the skilled development institute at Ethunumur. I welcome and express my gratitude to Honourable Prime Minister Sri Narendra Modiji for embracing the occasion. I also welcome the other dignitaries on the dance. Beginning with a modest capacity of only 2.5 million metric ton per annum. The Kochi Refinery after expansion with a production capacity of 15.5 million metric ton per annum has become the largest public sector refinery in India. It was an effort to meet the growing energy needs especially of South India and also to make environment friendly out of wells. The expansion project was completed in time during which indirect employment was provided to more than 20,000 people. Permanent direct and indirect employment for about 500 people has been created after commissioning of the units. Today Honourable Prime Minister is also laying the foundation stone of petrochemical complex. BPCL is strategically entering the petrochemical sector to reduce dependency of country on import of petrochemicals which is used to produce a wide range of daily use articles as paints, printing inks, automatic parts, diapers, cosmetics, pharmaceutical etc. The total investment for those petrochemical project is approximately 16,400 crore. I understand this will reduce the import to extend 13,000 crore per year which is quite substantial. Field stock available from BPCL for production of other value added products will lead to establishment of uncillary unit which will give boost to local economy and generate substantial employment in the state of Kerala. Honourable Prime Minister is also dedicating to nation, the Indian Oil Corporation mounted storage facility at its bottling plant. The salvage storage includes three boolards of 1200 metric tons each and was set up at a total cost of around 52 crores. BPCL along with other oil companies has promoted as a skilled development institute at Kochi to provide vocational training to youth and enhance their employability and entrepreneurship for oil and gas sector and other industries. First campus was set up at Incale Business Park, Angamali with all modern facilities in 36,500 square foot area. The second campus is to be set up at 8 acre of Lees land at Government ITA campus at Etunmaro, Kottian District, the State of Heart World Class Institute will scale 1000 students every year in 20 different trades in a built-up area of one lakh square foot and is expected to come in by mid 2020. Honourable Prime Minister will lay the foundation stone of this institute. Friends, Kochi has now emerged an important hub for petroleum infrastructure. We have LNG terminal in Kochi which can cater to the need of natural gas for the State of Kerala and Karnataka whilst connecting pipelines are laid down. It has now a world class refinery petroleum sector skilled development institute and LNG academy with petrochemical complex coming up in Kochi. It will give a quantum jump to the hydrocarbon portfolio of the city and the State of Kerala. Eight districts are being connected with city gas infrastructure in Kerala and three more districts will be connected very soon. Friends, Honourable Prime Minister has always given importance to the energy sector given its linkage to development and elevation of poverty. He has defined four pillars of energy foundation for India. Energy access, energy efficiency, energy sustainability and energy security. Under his guidance we are promoting alternative fuels like ethanol, compressed bio gas, coal to gas and many more similar initiatives. In last four and half years we have made attempt to make infrastructure to develop India as a refining and petrochemical hub of the world. I am happy that within this large converse Kochi will remain a bright spot. Thank you friends. Thank you very much sir. We have with us today the Honourable Chief Minister of Kerala Shreya Pinarayi Vijayan under who is the Steward leadership, the State of Kerala is moving on the path towards the same growth. May now invite the Honourable Chief Minister to deliver his address. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. the honourable Prime Minister will now dedicate the integrated refinery expansion complex to the nation. May request the other dignitaries to please join the honourable Prime Minister. The honourable Prime Minister will now press the button, unveiling the plaque. The honourable Prime Minister will now press the button, unveiling the plaque. The honourable Prime Minister will now dedicate the integrated refinery expansion complex to the nation. The honourable Prime Minister will now dedicate the integrated refinery expansion complex to the nation. The dedication of the mounted tide LPG storage vessel or Indian oil corporation at its Kochi bottling plant. Let me request the honourable Prime Minister to press the button and dedicate the facility LPG storage vessel of Indian oil corporation at its Kochi bottling plant. The second facility is now being inaugurated by the honourable Prime Minister. This is enhanced the capacity to 4,350 metric tonnes and will benefit lakhs of households across seven districts of Kerala. Ladies and gentlemen, the honourable Prime Minister will now lay the foundation stone of the proposed Bharat Petroleum's Petrochemical Complex at Kochi refinery. I would once again request the honourable Prime Minister to press the button. This make in India initiative is expected to go on stream by 2022 and will result in reduction of imports and considerable saving of foreign exchange. Foundation stone of the proposed Bharat Petroleum's Petrochemical Complex. And now, the honourable Prime Minister will remotely lay the foundation stone for a skilled development institute at Aitumanur Kottium. The institute, promoted by BPCL along with other oil companies, aims at providing vocational training to the youth and enhance their employability and entrepreneurship in oil and gas industry. The honourable Prime Minister will now address. Governor Justice P Sathasivam, Chief Minister Sri Pindarai Vijayan Ji, my colleague in Union Government Sri Dharmendra Pradhan Ji, Sri Alfonsi, MP Sri K. B. Thomas, MP Professor Richard Hay, MLA Sri B. P. Sajindaran, Kochi Ele Sahodari Sahodaran Mare, L. R. Komante Namaskaram. I am happy to be here at Kochi, the King of Arabian Sea, the Blue Sea, the backwaters, the Great Perrier River, the Greenery all around. And its dynamic people make Kochi indeed a queen among the cities. It was from here that the greatest Indian sage, Adi Shankara, embarked on his epic journey across India to protect the Indian civilization and unify the country. Today is a historic day when the largest industrial unit of Kerala is entering in next phase of development. It is indeed a proud moment, not just for Kerala, but also for the entire nation. Bharat Petroleum Cochin Refinery has played a critical role in popularizing the clean fuel LPG among masses in Kerala and neighboring states for more than 50 years. I recall my childhood when I had seen many mothers struggling with the firewood storm in the kitchen. Ever since I had always thought of improving their situation and providing healthy teachings to the mothers and sisters of India. The Ujwala scheme of the government of India is a way to realize the dream. I am happy that since May 2016, nearly 6 crore LPG connections have been provided to the poorest of the poor in our country under Ujwala Ayuzhana. Friends, more than 23 crore LPG consumers have joined the Pahal scheme. Pahal has helped in identifying ghost accounts, multiple accounts and inactive accounts. Pahal has entered into the Guinness Book of World Records as the largest direct benefit transfer scheme in the world. Over 1 crore customers have given up LPG subsidy under Give It Up Initiative. By doubling the LPG production with the help of recent expansion, Cochin Refinery is making a great contribution toward Ujwala. To overcome environment pollution, the government of India is promoting the use of environment friendly transport fuel, that is CNG, by expanding the coverage of city gas distribution network in the country. After the successful completion of 10th CGD bidding round, more than 400 districts of the country will be connected for providing pipe gas supply. The national grid or Pranamanti Urjaganga has also been created to have a gas-based economy and enhance the share of gas in the energy basket. The government has thought of developing additional 15,000 km of gas pipeline network to cut down on import of crude oil. Government has taken decisive steps towards reducing imports by 10% and saving precious foreign exchange. To this end, the second generation ethanol through lignocellulose route has been adopted by oil PSU for establishing 12 2G ethanol plants in 11 states. Six MOs have already been signed in this direction. The Indian refinery industry has done well in establishing itself as a major player globally. India, which is second largest oil refinery in Asia, is emerging as a refinery hub with refining more than its demand. The country's refinery capacity is currently more than 247 mmTPA. I take this opportunity to congratulate all for the timely completion of IREP. Last but not the least, I recognize the work of all those laborers who worked day and night during construction. I am told that at the peak of the project, over 20,000 laborers were working at the site. In many states, they are the real heroes of this project. The integrated refinery expansion project was also a strategic move of Bharat petroleum to diversify into non-fuel sector. My friends, petrochemicals are a grade of chemicals which we do not speak much about, but they exist invisibly and touch many aspects of our daily life. This includes building materials, plastic and paints, footwear, clothing and other fabrics or automotive parts, cosmetic and medicines. However, most of these chemicals are imported from other countries. It is our endeavor to see that these petrochemicals are manufactured in India itself. I am happy that using the capability of Kochi refinery to produce properly after the execution of IREP, BP sale has gone ahead with putting up three world scale plants to manufacture acrylic acid. Acrylic and also alcohol under making India. This list of petrochemicals will find a use in paints, ink, coating, detergent and in many other articles. Now BP sale is starting the construction of a petrochemical complex where it would produce polyols that find a use in forms of fiber, footwear, cosmetic and medicines. I am sure by all these many ancillary industries would come to Kochi. I hope the petrochemical park planned by state government would become operational soon and leverage the business opportunities provided by the petrochemical venture of BP sale. I am happy to note that BP sale along with other PSU has set up a skilled development institute for scaling and developing employable youth. I am delighted to lay the foundation stone of the second campus of the institute at Atmanur near the holy Mahadev temple. I am also glad to note that Indian oil cooperation has put out the mounted storage facility at this Kochi bottling plant around 10 km from here at a cost of Rs. 50 crores. This will enhance LPG storage capacity and also reduce road movement of LPG tankers. It is heartening to note that last August when Kerala was passing through the bus plot in 100 years BP sale Kochi refinery was kept running against all odds. I understand that many employees stayed in the refinery to ensure continuous production of petrol, diesel and LPG. This helped the rescue vehicles and helicopters to continue relief and rescue operations smoothly. I urge BP sale Kochi this refinery to keep up the spirit of hard work, social commitment and innovation as it moves towards its next phase of development. We are proud of Kochi refinery's contribution towards nation building but now we have greater expectations. I wish that Kochi refinery leads a patrochemical revolution in southern India and support the growing needs of a new India. Thank you. Thank you very much. All of us present here kindly accept our heartfelt gratitude for attending this function and making it truly memorable with your graceful presence and eloquent speech. A big thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Let's also thank the other dignitaries on the days, the Honorable Ghana, the Honorable Chief Minister, Honorable Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Honorable Union Minister of State for Tourism, Honorable MPs and Honorable Emily. We thank the dignitaries of the state, our other esteemed guests, our well-wishers and the public for making this function a grand success. Ladies and gentlemen kindly remain seated until the dignitaries leave the day.