Green belt at refineries and petrochemical complexes

7 October 2026 4 min read Grow Billion Trees team

Refineries and petrochemical units are Red category industries, and their green belt is set in the environmental clearance. Under MoEFCC's 29 October 2025 office memorandum, new standalone Red units in predominantly air-polluting sectors are referred to a 25% minimum, rising to 40% in critically or severely polluted areas. Brownfield expansions are decided case by case by the Expert Appraisal Committee.

What changed in October 2025?

For years, standardised environmental clearance (EC) conditions set a 33% green belt for most sectors. Red and Orange units in critically and severely polluted areas were asked for 40%.

On 29 October 2025, MoEFCC issued an office memorandum (OM) that rationalised green belt needs by pollution potential. It replaced a 2020 OM on industrial estates.

The new criteria apply to EC applications received after the OM, and to applications still under consideration. Plants with an existing EC should read their own conditions and check with their SPCB or regional office before assuming any change.

Which category is a refinery or petrochemical unit?

CPCB's 2016 classification places oil refineries and petrochemicals manufacturing in the Red category. CPCB also lists both among the 17 categories of highly polluting industries.

What minimum does the 2025 OM suggest?

Situation	Minimum green belt (Red category)
Unit inside a new greenfield industrial estate	15% of the unit's premises (estate also keeps 10% common green area)
Standalone unit, predominantly air-polluting sector	25%
Standalone unit, other sectors	20%
Red or Orange unit in a critically or severely polluted area	40%
Brownfield expansion or product-mix change	Set case by case by the Expert Appraisal Committee

For standalone units, the OM says the sectoral Expert Appraisal Committee lays down the figure in EC conditions. It "may refer" to the table, so your EC is the final word.

What else does the OM require?

Care period: provide watering and protection for at least five years, and ensure later sustenance.
Species: native, pollution-tolerant species, with a mix of evergreen and deciduous trees.
Structure: multi-tier planting of tall trees, shrubs and ground cover, with gap-free planting on sensitive boundaries.
Placement: belts as close to the pollution source as possible, and perpendicular to the main wind direction.
Reporting: half-yearly green belt reports with the environmental statement, covering area, tree numbers and species.
Ex-situ planting: units may add plantation outside the site with State Forest Departments or urban local bodies, for example under Nagar Van.

How should a refinery design its belt?

Refinery sites have pipe racks, tank farms, flare areas and fire-safety zones. The belt must respect those constraints, so layout comes first.

Start with a site survey

Map soil, drainage, salinity, wind direction and no-plant zones. Coastal refineries often face saline soils and cyclone winds, which shape species choice.

Plant in tiers

Use tall native trees at the back, medium trees in the middle and shrubs at the front. This gives a dense screen for dust and noise.

Plan for survival, not count

Belts fail in the dry season and when nobody owns maintenance. Budget for irrigation, gap-filling, weeding and mulching through the five-year care period.

Keep records an inspector can verify

Geo-tagged tree records, survival counts and photo or drone evidence make the half-yearly report straightforward. They also feed BRSR Principle 6 disclosures.

What if the site has no room left?

Many older complexes are fully built. The OM allows ex-situ plantation in partnership with government agencies, on top of the in-site minimum.

Dense Miyawaki-style plots can fit into small leftover parcels. Off-site options include community forests, farmer agroforestry and CSR projects near the plant.

What do inspectors usually look for?

Living trees on the ground that match the area claimed in reports.
Gaps filled after each monsoon, not left for years.
Native species in tiers, not a single row of ornamentals.
Records of watering, protection and survival for the care period.

Does a green belt reduce CCTS obligations?

No. A green belt does not lower a refinery's emission intensity or count toward its CCTS target. See why plantation does not count under CCTS.

For the full rules, species and maintenance basics across sectors, read our green belt development guide.

How Grow Billion Trees helps

We survey the site, design tiered belts with native species, plant, irrigate and care for trees, and prepare the records your half-yearly report needs. See our oil and gas page. We geo-tag every tree, report on GreenTrack, and hold to 85% survival across our programmes. Projects are priced per project after a site survey; you can plan a programme with our team.

Further reading: Green belt at thermal power plants: rules and design · Green Belt and Water Restoration for Chemical and Textile Clusters

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the 33% green belt still the rule for refineries?

Not for new EC applications. The 29 October 2025 OM refers standalone Red units in predominantly air-polluting sectors to a 25% minimum, and 40% in critically or severely polluted areas. Your EC conditions decide.

Does the 2025 OM change my existing EC?

The OM says it applies prospectively to new and pending EC applications. Check with your SPCB or MoEFCC regional office before changing any existing commitment.