Media Release
Hyderabad, Oct 29: Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited (MRPL), a subsidiary of ONGC and a leading category-I miniratna CPSE under the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas, has achieved a remarkable milestone by winning the Innovation Award 2024-25 for Best Innovation in Research & Development in refining technology at the 28th Energy Technology Meet (ETM 2025).
This recognition marks MRPL’s fourth successive win at the prestigious Government of India–promoted awards, reaffirming its continued leadership in indigenous innovation within the refining sector.
The award was conferred for MRPL’s “Gradual Olefins and Aromatic Technology (GOAT)” – a breakthrough crude-to-chemicals process developed indigenously by MRPL’s R & D team. The GOAT technology underscores India’s growing capability to convert crude oil directly into high-value petrochemicals, thereby enhancing energy efficiency, reducing carbon intensity, and advancing the nation’s journey toward sustainable refining.
The award was presented by Hardeep Singh Puri, minister of petroleum & natural gas, in the presence of Pankaj Jain, secretary, ministry of petroleum & natural gas, during the award ceremony organised under the aegis of the Centre for High Technology (CHT) at the Hyderabad International Convention Centre (HICC).
On behalf of MRPL, Nandakumar V Pillai (director - refinery) and chief managers Karthick R and S Nirmal Ganesh from the Innovation Centre Team of MRPL received the award.
The 28th Energy Technology Meet, themed “Green Energy Horizons: Advancing Sustainable Refining & Energy Innovation,” is India’s flagship congregation of downstream and energy - technology stakeholders. Organised by CHT under the ministry of petroleum & natural gas, the event brings together refiners, petrochemical producers, technology licensors, equipment manufacturers, and service providers from across India and abroad to exchange advancements and best practices in sustainable refining and decarbonisation technologies.
Held from October 28 to 30, ETM 2025 serves as a premier platform to showcase innovations driving India’s energy transition and circular-economy initiatives.
Speaking on the occasion, Nandakumar V Pillai (director - refinery) said “MRPL has always been ahead of its time in adopting advanced technologies. I am elated that our Innovation Centre is not only developing but also commercially implementing breakthrough technologies like GOAT — a futuristic and competitive crude-to-chemicals process that many in the industry are still striving to achieve. Our Innovation Centre continues to place MRPL at the forefront of technologies that the nation — and the world — truly need. I wholeheartedly congratulate the Innovation Centre team for securing the Innovation Award from the Government of India for the fourth consecutive year, an achievement that speaks volumes of their dedication and excellence. I wish the team continued success in their future endeavours.”