Numaligarh Refinery (NRL) Elevated from Miniratna to Prestigious Navratna

Numaligarh Refinery Limited (NRL) has been conferred the prestigious Navratna status by the Government of India. This upgrade reflects the company’s strong financial performance, strategic relevance, and its growing contribution to India’s energy security. With this recognition, NRL now joins the elite group of Navratna Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs), gaining significantly enhanced autonomy in investment and strategic decision-making.

Before achieving Navratna status, NRL was classified as a Miniratna Category-I CPSE. In July 2023, the refinery was upgraded from Schedule-B to Schedule-A, a key milestone that laid the foundation for its elevation to Navratna status. The new status now allows NRL greater financial and operational independence, including the ability to undertake larger projects, form joint ventures, and make quicker strategic investments.

NRL stated that this recognition reflects the vision of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and the continuous support of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas under Shri Hardeep Singh Puri. The company emphasized that the achievement strengthens Assam and the North-East region as an emerging hub for India’s energy security and long-term industrial growth.

The refinery is currently progressing with the Numaligarh Refinery Expansion Project (NREP), which aims to significantly increase refining capacity. In addition, NRL is developing the ABEPL bamboo-based 2G bioethanol plant, supporting India’s clean-energy and biofuel goals. The company is also advancing plans for new petrochemical facilities, which will further enhance value creation, drive regional development, and support the nation’s journey toward Atmanirbhar Bharat.