Increasing Polymers Production in India

In order to meet the growing demand for various grades of polymers used in wide array of applications, the Indian downstream petrochemical sector is all geared up for the commissioning of future installed capacity.

The latest report, "Chemicals and Petrochemicals Statistics at Glance: 2014", by Statistics and Monitoring Division of Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, Government of India highlights some key projects that will boost the polymer production in India in coming years.

ONGC Petro additions Limited (OPaL) is setting up a grass root mega Petrochemical project at Dahej, Gujarat in PCPIR/SEZ. The complex's main Dual Feed Cracker Unit has the capacity to produce 1.1 MTPA of ethylene, 400 KTPA of propylene. In addition, OPaL is setting up two 360 KTPA high density polyethylene (HDPE) / linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) swing units, and HDPE and polypropylene (PP) units having a capacity of 340 KTPA each, downstream of the cracker. Production is expected to begin in 2015-16.

ONGC Mangalore Petrochemicals Ltd. (OMPL; Mangalore, India) is building an aromatics complex in the Mangalore special economic zone (SEZ). The complex is designed to produce 900 KTPA of paraxylene (PX) and 300 KTPA of Benzene and is expected to become operational in the fiscal year ending March 2015. MRPL is separately building a 450 KTPA PP plant at the Mangalore SEZ, which is also expected to be on – stream in the fiscal year ending March 2015.

Brahmaputra Cracker and Polymer Limited (BCPL) is setting up Ethylene Cracker Unit (Ethylene-220 KTPA & Propylene 60 KTPA), LLDPE/HDPE Swing Unit (LLDPE/HDPE-226 KTPA) and PP Unit of 60 KTPA at Petrochemical complex in Lepetkata, Dibrugarh in Assam. The project is expected to be commissioned by end of 2014-15.

GAIL is currently expanding petrochemicals capacity at its Pata, Uttar Pradesh, site by adding a 450,000 TPA LLDPE -HDPE swing plant. With this expansion, Gail would double its petrochemical capacity by the end of 2014-15. They are gearing up to spend about Rs. 2,600 crore to set up 110 KTPA poly butadiene rubber (PBR) plant in Gujarat. The project is targeted to be completed by the Q1 of FY17.

Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) is expanding refining capacity at Kochi and, as part of those plans, is establishing a fluid catalytic cracker that will produce 500 KTPA of propylene to be consumed as feedstock by the proposed petrochemical complex. The petrochemical plant will produce niche petrochemicals such as acrylic acid, superabsorbent polymers (SAP), acrylates, and oxo alcohols. The BPCL petrochemical complex, when operational, would be the first plant in India to produce SAPs. The complex is expected to be on -stream in fiscal year 2017–18.

Indian Oil is building 1 MTPA acetic acid plant in a joint venture with British Petroleum (BP), near Indian Oil's refinery at Koyali, in Gujarat. The acetic acid facility is expected to become operational in 2017. Indian Oil is studying a number of projects based on refinery propylene at Koyali. Facilities would make products including acrylic acid, acrylic esters, and oxo alcohols. The acrylic acid plant would be designed to produce 100 KTPA, and the esters unit, producing mainly butyl acrylate, would have capacity for 160 KTPA.

RIL is significantly expanding its petrochemicals capacity with a range of projects. RIL is doubling PX capacity at Jamnagar and will become the world's second – largest producer of PX. Reliance is expected to commission a 142 KTPA SBR plant and a 40 KTPA polybutadiene rubber plant at Hazira, by the end of the current financial year. A 100 KTPA butyl rubber JV facility at Jamnagar with Sibur (Moscow) will be on-stream in 2015. The new plant will expand RIL's total BR capacity to 120 KTPA. RIL currently runs an 80 KTPA BR plant at Baroda, which is also in the Gujarat. Reliance is building a 1.5 MTPA ethylene plant at Jamnagar that is expected to start up in the second half of 2015-16.