Barmer, Dec. 19 -- The Barmer refinery project is on the verge of becoming operational, with Union petroleum and natural gas minister Hardeep Singh Puri announcing in the Rajya Sabha that the project has entered its final and decisive phase. The minister said that most of the construction and technical work at the refinery has been completed and the first consignment of crude oil has already reached the site. Responding to a supplementary question raised by Rajya Sabha MP Chunnilal Garasiya during Question Hour, Puri informed the house that the refinery is a long-pending project whose foundation was laid prior to 2014. He said that the project has now reached a critical stage and is expected to commence commercial operations shortly. According to the minister, the Barmer refinery is one of the largest in India, with a production capacity of 9 million metric tonnes per annum. He further informed that the refinery is an integrated project that will not only produce petroleum products such as petrol and diesel but will also include a petro-coke unit, adding significant value to downstream industries. Only final operational tests remain, after which the refinery can be commissioned, he added. He expressed confidence that the refinery could be commissioned within next few weeks. The minister informed the House that he would soon visit the Barmer refinery site along with fellow Members of Parliament to review the project on the ground once the final stages are completed. The visit is expected to underscore the Centre's focus on ensuring timely commissioning of the refinery....