PM to dedicate Paradip Refinery to nation on Feb 7

Bhubaneswar: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will dedicate the 15 MMPTA capacity state-of-the-art Paradip Refinery to the nation on February 7.

This was informed by Sanjiv Singh, Director (Refineries), IndianOil, at a press briefing here on Tuesday.

He said IndianOil’s 11th Refinery at Paradip will meet the rising energy demands of the country. For better profitability, the refinery is designed to process 100% high-sulphur, including 40% heavy, low-cost crude oil and will produce various petroleum products like petrol, diesel, kerosene, aviation turbine fuel, propylene, sulphur and petroleum coke.

“The Refinery will accelerate the economic and infrastructural development in and around the area and act as a gateway for opportunities in Eastern India and serve as a catalyst for energising the industrial and economic development of the entire region and Odisha in the long run,” Singh pointed out.

He said the Refinery will produce motor spirit and high speed diesel (HSD) of BS-IV quality initially and switch over to BS-VI norms in due course to comply with the timelines set by the Centre.

He also informed that the refinery will use a unique INDMAX Unit technology, indigenously developed by IndianOil (R&D) scientists and engineers, designed to produce 44% LPG, the highest from such plants.

“The commissioning of INDMAX Unit at Paradip with an annual output of 4.17 million metric tonnes, is a milestone in the history of Indian refining. With this technology, IndianOil is now recognized globally as a technology supplier. Implementation of this technology is the company’s true tribute to the 'Make in India' initiative of the Prime Minister,” Singh noted.

Other first-time technological features like Flel Gas Desulphurisation facilities, Vapour Recovery system from jetty loading, etc., are the other achievements of Paradip Refinery that will ensure environment-friendly operation of the refinery with minimum impact to the eco-system.

The first consignment of products, comprising high speed diesel, superior kerosene and LPG from IndianOil's Paradip Refinery, was first flagged off in November last year.

“With an aim to earn further value-addition to the Refinery, a 700 KTA capacity Polypropylene Plant based on propylene recovered from Cracked LPG generated from INDMAX Plant is under implementation at an approved cost of Rs 3150 crore and is scheduled for completion by 2017-18”, Singh said, adding that the refinery also has plans to set up an ethylene recovery unit/mono-ethylene glycol (MEG) at an estimated cost of Rs 3800 crore which is expected to be completed by 2020-21.

Stating that IndianOil is evaluating the options of setting-up manufacturing facilities for Para-Xylene, PTA and synthetic ethanol at Paradip, he said these facilities may be installed in the next five to seven years time subject to techno-commercial viability.