Chennai Petroleum Corporation Limited (CPCL) delivered a landmark financial performance in FY 2025-26, reporting Revenue from Operations of ₹78,610.66 crore and Profit After Tax of ₹3,061.85 crore—a dramatic turnaround from ₹174 crore PAT in the previous year. The results were underpinned by record operational achievements, improved refining margins, and disciplined financial management, marking FY 2025-26 as one of the most consequential years in the company's six-decade history.

Key Financial Highlights

The following table summarises CPCL's standalone financial performance for FY 2025-26:

The company's credit ratings were maintained at the highest levels—AAA for long-term credit and A1+ for short-term credit—by both CRISIL and ICRA.

Dividend and Shareholder Returns

CPCL declared its highest-ever total dividend of ₹62 per equity share for FY 2025-26, comprising:

• Final equity dividend: ₹54 per share (540% on paid-up equity share capital), amounting to ₹804.12 crore
• Maiden interim equity dividend: ₹8 per share (80%), amounting to ₹119.13 crore
• Preference dividend: 6.65% (₹0.665 per preference share) on outstanding preference shares up to the date of redemption on September 23, 2025, amounting to ₹15.94 crore

The record date for the final equity dividend has been fixed as Friday, 7 August 2026. The remaining ₹500 crore of Non-Convertible Cumulative Redeemable Preference Shares were redeemed on 23 September 2025, leaving no outstanding preference shares as at 31 March 2026.

Record Operational Performance

FY 2025-26 was characterised by best-ever performance across multiple operational parameters:

Six new international crude varieties were successfully processed during the year—WTI Midland (USA), Qatar Marine (Qatar), Nile Blend (Sudan), Sarir Messla Blend (Libya), Sankofa (Ghana), and Rabi Blend (Gabon)—enhancing feedstock flexibility and supply resilience.

Capital Expenditure and Strategic Projects

CPCL incurred Capital Expenditure of ₹866.17 crore in FY 2025-26, compared to ₹680.82 crore in FY 2024-25, registering a growth of 27.23%. Key projects include:

The LOBS project will produce 256 KTPA of Group II/III Lube Oil Base Stocks, supporting import substitution and reducing Scope 3 emissions by 830 KTCO2e (3%).

Navratna Status and Retail Expansion

CPCL was elevated as the 28th Navratna Central Public Sector Enterprise by the Department of Public Enterprises, Government of India, in June 2026. The company also entered the retail fuel marketing segment under the SOOPER brand, commissioning its first retail outlet on 22 March 2026 and its first Company-Owned Company-Operated (COCO) outlet at Mathur, Chennai on 20 May 2026. The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has authorised CPCL to establish 300 retail outlets across India.

Direct Marketing and Value-Added Products

Highest-ever direct marketing sales (excluding Pet coke and sulphur) reached 316.9 TMT, a year-on-year increase of approximately 35.3%. Key milestones include:

• Mineral Turpentine Oil (MTO) sales: 129 TMT (vs. previous highest of 54 TMT in FY 2024-25)
• Pharma Grade Hexane sales: 8.3 TMT (vs. previous highest of 4.2 TMT)
• Low Sulphur Naphtha dispatch: 21.8 TMT (vs. previous best of 2.7 TMT in FY 2024-25)

R&D and Innovation

The DSIR-recognised R&D Centre recorded its highest-ever investment of ₹17.84 crore during FY 2025-26. Three new patent applications were filed during the year, bringing total granted Indian patents to 9 as of FY 2025-26. Key research initiatives included feasibility studies for Pentane-rich streams, n-Heptane-rich streams, Very Low Sulphur Fuel Oil (VLSFO), Special Boiling Point Solvents, and drilling fluids, along with collaborative projects with IIT Madras and RGIPT.

Sustainability and ESG

CPCL achieved an S&P Global ESG Score of 60 out of 100 for 2025, ranking second among Indian oil and gas companies. The company's disclosure-based S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment (CSA) Score improved to 59, significantly outperforming the industry average of 35. Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions intensity per metric tonne of crude throughput reduced to 0.22 tCO2e/MT. The company consumed 478 TMT of RLNG during FY 2025-26, enabling a reduction of approximately 475 TMT of CO2 emissions. A 1.1 MW Floating Solar Power Plant was commissioned in October 2025, increasing total installed solar capacity to 3.4 MW. CSR expenditure for the year stood at ₹55.23 crore.

Annual General Meeting

The 60th Annual General Meeting of CPCL is scheduled to be held on Monday, 24 August 2026 at 11:00 AM (IST) through Video Conference/Other Audio Visual Means. The record date for determining entitlement to the final equity dividend has been fixed as Friday, 7 August 2026. Remote e-voting will be open from 09:00 AM on Thursday, 20 August 2026 till 5:00 PM on Sunday, 23 August 2026.

Chennai Petroleum Corporation has filed its Business Responsibility and Sustainability Report (BRSR) for FY 2025-26, revealing a long-term strategy to achieve net-zero operational emissions by 2046. The filing, submitted to stock exchanges on August 1, 2026, under Regulation 34(2)(f) of the SEBI (Listing Obligations & Disclosure Requirements) Regulations 2015, outlines the company’s environmental, social, and governance performance. The report was assured by Bureau Veritas (India) Private Limited, which provided reasonable assurance on the disclosed data. This disclosure is material for investors tracking the company’s transition risks and capital allocation towards decarbonization amidst evolving regulatory landscapes.

The company reported a turnover of ₹78,610.66 crore and a net worth of ₹10,800.02 crore for the financial year. Operations remain concentrated in the domestic market, with no direct international sales, although CPCL supports exports through Indian Oil Corporation. The refinery processes crude oil into refined petroleum products, with High Speed Diesel (HSD) contributing 49.17% of turnover, followed by Motor Spirit (MS) at 12.64%, Naphtha at 11.45%, and Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) at 10.10%.

Environmental Performance and Climate Strategy

CPCL identified climate change as a primary risk and opportunity, aiming to mitigate physical and transition risks through operational resilience. The company achieved an actual Modified Benchmark Norm (MBN) of 75.2 against a PAT Cycle VI target of 76.85 for FY 2022-23, making it eligible for 18,162 Energy Saving Certificates (ESCerts). To reduce greenhouse gas emissions, CPCL utilized Re-Gasified Liquefied Natural Gas (RLNG), generating a CO₂ reduction of 475,745 metric tons. Other initiatives included wind power generation of 31.4 million units and solar power generation of 2.62 million units.

The company faces ongoing environmental litigation regarding compensation levied by the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB). An interim stay was granted by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) in March 2025 on a ₹73.68 crore levy related to the Michaung cyclone oil spill, conditional on a bank guarantee of ₹19.12 crore, which was submitted in April 2025. A separate demand of ₹6.24 crore is also under trial before the NGT.

Social Governance and Stakeholder Engagement

CPCL employs 739 permanent employees and 664 permanent workers. The workforce includes 20 differently abled employees and 18 differently abled workers. The company reported zero fatalities and zero reportable safety incidents over the past four years. Training coverage reached 100% for Board of Directors and Key Managerial Personnel on human rights and sustainability principles.

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) spending focused on health, education, and infrastructure in aspirational districts. Notably, ₹1,079 crore was allocated to projects in Ramanathapuram, Tamil Nadu. The company also undertook rehabilitation and resettlement for 2,163 families affected by the New Grassroot Refinery cum-Petrochemical Project (CBRPL), disbursing ₹122.29 crore during the year.

What the Numbers Show

The data indicates a strong reliance on process optimization for emission reductions rather than new large-scale capital projects, as evidenced by the significant CO₂ reduction from RLNG utilization and energy conservation schemes compared to renewable energy generation. While the company maintains a zero-incident safety record, the pending environmental compensation cases highlight residual regulatory risks associated with legacy incidents. The substantial CSR outlay in Ramanathapuram suggests a strategic focus on social license to operate beyond its immediate operational footprint in Chennai.