BPCL’s foray into production of polyols, used in manufacturing a large basket of products for the automobile, textile, furniture, footwear, foam and construction products, was seen as a move by the country to reduce import dependency for niche petrochemicals and evolution of India as makers of high-value-added specialty chemicals. Estimates say India requires about 4 lakh tonnes of polyols annually, but current local production is only 15,000 tonnes.
Plans were to set up six processing units for propylene oxide, propylene glycol, polyols, ethylene oxide and mono ethylene glycol, ethylene recovery unit and a cumene unit at the Kochi Refinery and use 250 kilo tonnes per annum (KTPA) of propylene made by the refinery as feedstock. The project was proposed to be completed by 2023-24. Now the board’s suggestion is to make a polypropylene plant to use the propylene made by Kochi refinery.
