The state of West Bengal has shelved its commitment to building a petrochemical zone at Haldia, the Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals has found a new project partner in Kerala. A PCPIR is being proposed in the Southern Indian state of Kerala, with Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd as the anchor tenant or the main refiner. The Kerala government has submitted a formal proposal to the Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers to set up a petrochemical zone or a Petroleum, Chemicals and Petrochemicals Investment Region (PCPIR) in Kochi. The PCPIR will be in close proximity to BPCL’s refinery at Kochi, which is expanding its refining capacity from 9.5 mln tpa to 15.5 mtpa.
According to official sources, project will cost about Rs 9,000 crore, which includes cost of land, internal and external infrastructure, road and rail linkages, and setting up water supply systems. With the increased crude capacity of 15.5 mtpa, the refinery will produce 5,00,000 tons of propylene a year, in addition to various fuels, such as liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), high speed diesel (HSD), kerosene, aviation turbine fuel (ATF), petroleum coke, bitumen, etc. Sources said that by utilising the propylene, BPCL plans to establish joint venture companies for production of various base materials.
Gujarat has merged the PCPIRs with the special economic zones (SEZ) and received investments from private refineries and ship building companies. Orissa and Andhra Pradesh governments have expedited the infrastructure and environmental clearances; however, refineries or anchor tenants are yet to sign up commitments. Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) is the anchor tenant for the Paradip PCPIR in Orissa, while Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL) and Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) are the tenants in Andhra Pradesh.
25-Oct-12 
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