 "Odisha to rope in fertiliser firms for petrochemical hub")
The Odisha government is aiming to rope in noted fertilizer companies to set up units at the PCPIR (petroleum, chemicals and petrochemicals investment region) hub planned over an area of 284 sq km straddling Jagatsinghpur and Kendrapara districts.
At the national chemical conclave held in Mumbai recently, the state government initiated talks with some fertilizer makers keen to set up their units in Odisha.
"Some fertilizer companies are keen to shift their bases from states like Gujarat and Maharashtra to Odisha. Deepak Fertilizers has already committed an investment of Rs 2,000 crore to put up its facility at Paradeep. We are also coming out with a dedicated policy on chemicals and petrochemicals to attract companies in this space", said a senior government official.
The upcoming petrochemical complex by Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (IOCL) would offer feedstock to the fertilizer and chemical companies. IOCL is the anchor tenant for the PCPIR hub in Odisha. As the anchor tenant, it has commissioned a 15 million tonne grassroot crude oil refinery by investing Rs 35,000 crore.
Also, IOCL is investing Rs 34,000 crore on the petrochemical complex. The entire petrochemical complex is slated to be commissioned by 2021. The first unit of this complex — the polypropylene unit is scheduled to be completed by December next year. The unit estimated to cost Rs 3,150 crore got the investment approval of IOCL board in March 2014.
The polypropylene unit would make use of Spheripol Technology from Basell, Italy. The unit will be capable of producing different grades of polypropylene but will commence with production of only homo grade initially. The major facilities envisaged under the project are coker LPG treater unit, ware house for polypropylene storage and other associated facilities like flare and cooling tower.
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Out of 123 sq km of processing area of PCPIR, 54 sq km is already operational. Land measuring five sq km has been acquired for industries and ready for allotment.
A special purpose vehicle (SPV) called Paradeep Investment Region Development Ltd has been formed for implementation of PCPIR.
The detailed projects report (DPR), comprehensive master plan and zonal plan are underway and expected to be completed by October 2017. The environment impact assessment, environment management plan and coastal regulatory zone (CRZ) studies are also on and expected to be commissioned by the same period.