In late April activists and villagers in the Ratnagiri District, located on the western coast of India, entered an intense battle with police as they protested against the Ratnagiri Refinery and Petrochemical project. This will create the world’s largest petrochemical refinery, threatening this ecologically fragile area’s livelihood and environment.
The project is a joint venture between Indian Oil Corporation Ltd, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd, and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd, backed by Saudi Aramco and the United Arab Emirates Abu Dhabi National Oil Company. It will require 6,000 acres of land, affecting six villages (approximately 15,000 people). At least 1,000 acres will be used to transport crude oil from Saudi Arabia to the project site, destroying the western coast of the Ratnagiri region, a vital source of water for crops and home to several farms. The area is devoted to mango cultivation; at least 20,000 villagers are directly dependent on this economy.
In 2019 the state government told villagers of their intent to set up an industry in the region, intentionally ignoring that the plans included an environmentally destructive refinery serving the interest of company profit. The first meeting with the community was in February 2021, four years after the project had begun, and only 10% have consented to the land being destroyed – most of those who consented have bought land in the region but do not live there. Since drilling began in April 2023 there have been several letters of objection from local village councils which the authorities have ignored.
In the most recent protests, the police imposed curfews, used batons and tear gas to disperse protests. FRFI stands with everyone in their fight to protect their lands from exploitation and environmental destruction!
Destinie Sanchez
