Barmer/Balotra, Jan. 14 -- Trial operations at the Pachpadra refinery have commenced following the successful arrival of crude oil from Gujarat's Mundra Port, marking a major milestone for Rajasthan's first crude oil refinery project, officials aware of the matter said. The crude travelled nearly 700 km through a pipeline network and reached the refinery after a 21-day journey, with multi-stage testing and commissioning of the system. "The pipeline underwent rigorous three-stage testing to ensure safety and technical precision before crude oil was pumped into the refinery complex," said an official. Engineers view the successful transfer as a significant technical achievement for HPCL Rajasthan Refinery Limited (HRRL), paving the way for further commissioning activities. The arrival of crude oil has triggered trial production at the refinery. Authorities target full operational capacity by March. Once fully commissioned, the refinery will meet the country's energy requirements and boost industrial growth in western Rajasthan, said the official. Construction of the sodium recovery unit-one of the refinery's most critical components-has finished. "The unit remains vital to the crude processing chain and essential for safe, efficient operations. After crude processing trials conclude, other units will come online gradually to produce petroleum products such as petrol and diesel," the officials said. Senior officials said the refinery will likely receive formal dedication to the state in January, serving as a New Year's gift for Rajasthan. Prime Minister Narendra Modi may visit Pachpadra after January 15 to inaugurate the project, though no official confirmation exists. Some sources claimed that the Prime Minister may inaugurate the refinery on January 28. Ahead of the proposed inauguration, district administration and refinery officials have stepped up preparations. Balotra collector Sushil Kumar Yadav and Pachpadra MLA Arun Choudhary inspected the refinery premises on Monday, reviewing arrangements for the public meeting venue, helipad, parking facilities, traffic movement, and security. Officials assessed readiness to manage large crowds expected from Barmer, Balotra, Jodhpur, and nearby districts. Officials updated on project progress, noting that on-block electrical (OBE) work has reached 99.8% completion. Rajasthan Refinery chief executive officer Kamalakar R Vikhar and chief financial officer Inderjeet Dasgupta said overall physical progress of the HRRL project stands at 90.3%, while refinery units alone have hit 96.4% completion. The Rajasthan refinery, a flagship state government project and the country's first to integrate a refinery with a petrochemical complex, lies in Balotra district. The seventh meeting of the state-level task force on the refinery, chaired by chief secretary V. Srinivas at the secretariat, recently heard that nearly 90% of the overall project work has been completed. Pachpadra refinery ranks among Rajasthan's most ambitious industrial ventures. It promises large-scale employment and major contributions to the state's economy. The crude oil transfer, completion of key units, and start of trial operations have heightened expectations of a formal inauguration soon, placing Barmer firmly on India's industrial map....