Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) has successfully commissioned India’s first LC-MAX residue conversion unit at its Visakh Refinery, supported by an integrated intelligence backbone, marking a significant milestone in the evolution of India’s downstream refining sector. 

The deployment marks the first-ever implementation of the LC-MAX residue conversion technology in India—one of the most complex refining processes ever designed. Developed and patented by CLG in 2012, LC-MAX converts the bottom of the barrel into high-value distillates, achieving up to 93% vacuum residue conversion, while driving operational excellence and sustainability across HPCL’s Residue Upgradation Facility (RUF). 

Operating such an advanced and complex unit from the outset requires real-time intelligence and optimization. To meet this, the LC-MAX Digital Suite—developed and delivered by Lummus Digital—integrates real-time monitoring, predictive analytics, and AI-driven optimization to enable HPCL to operate the unit at peak efficiency from day one.  

Embedded from the startup phase, the digital suite ensures that at feed cut-in, the system is fully operational and production-ready. The suite is powered by mcube, an advanced AI and data platform that serves as the intelligence backbone. 

Lummus Digital and CLG are grateful for the support of the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas (MoPNG) in advancing digital-led initiatives aligned with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Atmanirbhar Bharat vision for India’s oil and gas sector. 

"This is a defining moment for India’s refining landscape. As the country’s first LC-MAX unit, this deployment positions HPCL at the forefront of technological and operational innovation. By integrating advanced intelligence, we are setting a new benchmark for efficiency, reliability, and sustainability in Indian refining," said Vikas Kaushal, Chairman and Managing Director, Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited. 

"With hybrid modelling and an integrated digital backbone built on mcube, the LC-MAX Digital Suite will be a valuable operational asset for HPCL—delivering sustained operational value,” Debdas Sen, Joint Executive Director, Lummus Digital & CEO, TCG Digital. 

Ujjal Mukherjee, Joint Executive Director, Lummus Digital & CTO, Lummus Technology said, “By combining decades of proven process technology from Lummus with AI-assisted optimization, this deployment represents exactly the kind of integrated innovation the downstream refining industry needs to drive margins.”  

Arun Arora, CTO, Chevron Lummus Global said, “CLG is proud to be part of the successful deployment of advanced Digital Suite for the world’s first LC-MAX unit at HPCL, designed for bottom-of-the-barrel upgrading of vacuum residue. This cutting-edge solution seamlessly integrates CLG’s proprietary process technology know-how and optimization tools, delivering real-time insights to maximize throughput, enhance reliability, and drive superior operational efficiency.”