BPCL’s Kochi refinery project gets environment clearance

KOCHI, INDIA: The Rs 14,225 crore ($2.57 billion) integrated refinery expansion project (IREP) of Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL) to be implemented at Kochi Refinery has got environment clearance from the Ministry of Environment & Forests. The IREP project proposes, to increase the refining capacity of Kochi Refinery to 15.5 million tonne from the present 9.5 million tonne, modernization of refinery to produce auto fuels complying with Euro IV/Euro V specifications, upgradation of low value refinery residue stream to value added products and production of propylene.

BPCL intends to utilize the propylene to make petrochemical products like acrylates, super absorbent polymer etc which are predominantly imported into the country now. BPCL has signed an MoU with petrochemical major LG Chem, South Korea as a joint venture partner for the petrochemical complex.

The IREP project is scheduled to be completed by December 2015 and the petrochemical complex is expected to go on stream in tandem with the expansion project. Besides generating employment, about 1.3 million tonne of petcoke will also be produced from projects, which along with propylene is expected to provide a fillip to the industry in Kerala.

© The Economic Times News