MEGAPROJECT | Kochi integrated Refineries cum Petrochemicals Complex | LNG Petronet | Megapower Plant

[mohammedirshad06]

Govt not actively pressing for Piped City Gas project, despite of forming KGAIL and already city have two major artery pipelines. The cost of same level of LNG of current Subsidized LPG, would be just Rs 330, for all consumers, sans domestic or commercial, which makes more attractive.

[mohammedirshad06]

How City Piped Gas Network works

[Malayaali]

Kochi ready to pipe gas to home and industry

The search for an environment-friendly, cost-effective fuel for commercial and domestic uses is taking planners and infrastructure developers to natural gas. An emerging option in the global energy scene, natural gas is slowly but steadily finding its way into Indian industry and home.

Kerala is getting ready to adopt it with the commissioning of the Petronet LNG terminal in Kochi for storing and distributing gas across Kerala and beyond by the year-end or the dawn of the New Year.

The arrival of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to the shores of Kerala is taking place at a time when the subsidy regime on petroleum fuels is on a retreat. Petroleum products are being deprived of subsidy in phases. The government has made it clear that there will be no going back, and the day may not be far off when the cushion of subsidy is pulled out.

The situation augurs well for natural gas to spread its wings. But it needs careful planning to reduce dependence on crude oil and switch over to natural gas. The LNG terminal at Puthuvype holds immense promise in this context.

LNG will be transported through underground pipes from the terminal. Pipes have been laid by Gail (India) Ltd. in Kochi for supply of gas to various industrial units. The pipeline network will be extended to Palakkad, from there to Bangalore and Mangalore separately and Thiruvananthapuram, via Kayamkulam, where gas will be supplied to run a thermal power plant of the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC). Kochi, on its part, will play a pivotal role in the changes in store for the State and beyond.

As can be expected, there is an element of hesitancy among the partners in the new ventures which will depend on LNG. It is only a passing phase, industry experts say. Once the subsidy regime subsides, comparisons with petroleum and its derivatives will become insignificant, a senior official of a public-sector oil company says.

One of the biggest beneficiary segments will be cooking-gas consumers. With the subsidy on gas cylinders reduced, the oil-marketing companies have stepped up regulations to minimise consumption. The resultant frustration among the consumers is giving way to public demonstrations.

A cooling effect can be the thought of introducing LNG in the new avatar of City Gas, the piped gas supply. It is going to be a reality sooner than later, provided infrastructure gets its due.

Again, one of the prime requirements for LNG-based operations is end-to-end tie-up. Natural gas is transported in liquefied form from various countries by means of specialised vessels, stored in locations with modern storage facilities and re-gasified, all of which require massive investment. Unless there are major consumers, the operational economy will get weak, industry sources say.

The NTPC, the Kerala State Electricity Board and several companies are hoping for the best deal so as to be at an advantageous position in an energy- starved state, the oil-company official says. For several companies, utilising subsidised naphtha is a preferred option rather than natural gas. There is less focus on transmission loss in the prevailing scene.

“They will like to continue with the subsidy, and claim that they are giving power at cheaper rates. All these complications are because people are getting cheaper products and services in a subsidised regime. In fact, subsidy is killing productivity,” the official says.

Will the government be able to get rid of the subsidy regime? It is not possible instantly, but it can be done in small doses, he says.

[Malayaali]

ONGC, GAIL keen on stake in BPCL's Rs 5,000-crore Kochi project

ONGC & GAIL India have evinced interest in picking up
stake in the Rs 5K-cr Kochi petrochemical project that BPCL
is building in JV with LG Chemicals

NEW DELHI: State-owned Oil and Natural Gas Corp (ONGC) and gas utility GAIL India Ltd have evinced interest in picking up stake in the Rs 5,000-crore Kochi petrochemical project that Bharat Petroleum Corp Ltd (BPCL) is building in joint venture with Korea's LG Chemicals.

"We have got written proposal from several companies to join the project," BPCL Chairman and Managing Director R K Singh said on the sidelines of the Petrotech Conference here.

Explorer ONGC and GAIL shown interest in taking equity stake, he said.

The petrochemical complex is being built with LG Chemicals as the lead partner. "They (LG) will take 51 per cent stake," he said.

For the moment, BPCL has the remaining 49 per cent. "We haven't decided yet on taking more partners," Singh said.

"The equity structure of the petrochemical joint venture has not yet been finalised. But it has been more or less agreed that LG will be the lead partner," he added.

The project will be build along with the Rs 14,500 crore expansion of the Kochi refinery from 9.5 million tons now to 15.5 million tons by 2015-16.

As part of this project, it would be establishing a petrochemical fluid catalytic cracker to generate 500 TMTPA of propylene. This would offer BPCL a launch pad for diversification into petrochemicals.

Completion of the project would be dovetailed into the refinery expansion project.

Singh said the petrochemical project will be completed by December 2015 and commissioned by March 16. It will produce high-value products like acrylic acid (which is currently not produced in India) and super absorbent polymers that are used in manufacture of diapers. Also, it would manufacture oxoalcohol that is a feed stock in manufacture of paints and certain cosmetics.

Kochi refinery's new units would include a 10.5 million tons crude distillation unit, a 2.2 million tons fluid catalytic cracker (FCC) unit, a 4.3 million tons diesel hydrotreater, a 3 million tons vacuum gasoil hydrotreater and a 3.84 million tons delayed coker.

The FCC will produce about 2.15 million tons of propylene annually.

BPCL also owns refineries at Mumbai, Bina and Assam.

[Malayaali]

Kochi petrochem project: ONGC, GAIL keen on stake buy

[passionfruit12]

The protest that was under way in Elamkunnapuzha village against Petronet LNG has been resolved at a meeting chaired by Excise Minister K. Babu here on Wednesday.

The people of the village panchayat had been on the warpath against the project raising a slew of demands. A meeting called recently at the instance of the Chief Minister to resolve the issue had proved inconclusive and a further meeting was slated for Tuesday.

As part of the settlement agreement, about Rs. 12 crore will be spent on the development of the panchayat during the next four years, including in this financial year. As per the settlement, the Petronet LNG will also assist in the renovation of a school and hospital in the panchayat. A cemetery will be built if the panchayat makes available land.

Apart from issuing identity cards to fishing workers in the area, a special rehabilitation package will be implemented jointly by the Cochin Port Trust and Petronet for mussel and fishing workers. Mr. Babu said that the fisheries department will be entrusted with this responsibility.

Local residents will be given preference in contract work in the project site and unskilled jobs in the project. The Minister said that any issues that may crop up in the future should be resolved by bringing them to the notice of the Collector.

The protest was under way in the panchayat based on six sets of demands – Petronet should give equivalent to three per cent of the funds allocated by the Kochi Refineries as part of its corporate responsibility initiatives for the development of the panchayat, assistance to school, hospital, and cemetery in the panchayat, rehabilitation project for fishing and mussel collecting workers, jobs to local residents in Petronet, assistance for the development of roads, and safety measures to prevent pollution.

Mr. Babu said that while corporate responsibility initiatives are meant for profit-making companies, Petronet LNG is fulfilling this responsibility even before starting operations here. He said that the meeting helped to increase the allocation under corporate responsibility.

He said that the company’s demand for the inclusion of MP and MLA funds along with its allocation of Rs. 12 crore for the development of the panchayat has been accepted.

A committee of the District Collector, village panchayat secretary, and representatives of Petronet and PWD will monitor the execution of the project.

District collector P.I. Sheikh Pareed, Petronet senior vice-president P. Khetrapal, and village panchayat president Biatris Joseph signed the settlement agreement in the presence of the minister.

Dominic Presentation, MLA, panchayat vice-president Benny, Petronet general manager T.N. Neelakantan, district panchayat member K.J. Tomy, and members of protest committee attended the meeting.

http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper...cle4008131.ece

[passionfruit12]

The days of protests are not over for the residents in Elamkunnapuzha grama panchayat. Their agitation against the Petronet LNG terminal concluded amicably on Wednesday. Now the residents are planning to intensify their protest against the Indian Oil Corporation’s (IOC) proposed LPG receiving and storage facility at Puthuvype island.

The residents under the banner of Puthuvype LPG terminal Virudha Janakeeya Samara Samithi are seeking support from various political parties for their agitation.

They say that poor infrastructure facilities in the region are creating threats to the life and property of the residents. There are complaints that the distance from the terminal to the residential area is only 30 metres, which is not sufficient.

The proposal for setting up an LPG terminal came up in 2009 and Cochin Port Trust allocated 37 acres on a long-term lease in Puthuvype to the oil company. The total project cost is likely to be in the range of Rs 600 crore.

“When the plant is fully operational, as many as 500 bullet tankers will be going through the region from the port on a day-to-day basis. Considering the poor infrastructure in the area this will cause more threat to residents. We have been staging agitations since the proposal came three years ago. The agitation will be intensified in the future,” said T J Xavier, convener, LPG terminal Virudha Janakeeya Samara Samithi.

The boundary wall for the plant is yet to be finished. No construction activity has been taking place at the site. Only two security personnel were deployed in the area, he said.

M B Jayaghosh, chairman, LPG Terminal Virudha Janakeeya Samara Samithi, said the drainage facilities in the panchayat was disrupted owing to the LPG terminal project. More seriously it is a threat to the lives of the over 60,000 residents in the region.

He charged that the project was proposed in the region saying that there are no residents in that area.

The LPG terminal, upon implementation, will pave the way for clearing the Kerala roads of the LPG tanker lorries, which continuously pose a safety threat.

http://newindianexpress.com/cities/k...cle1305757.ece

[Richukutan]

http://www.thehindu.com/business/pet...cle4013270.ece

[mohammedirshad06]

Kochi likely to get PCICR soon

With West Bengal shelving its commitment to building a petrochemical zone at Haldia, the Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals has found a new project partner in Kerala.

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 proposed PCPIR will have Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL) as the anchor tenant or the main refiner, from which the feedstock for other products will be manufactured. The PCPIR will be in close proximity to BPCL’s refinery at Kochi, which is expanding its refining capacity from 9.5 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) 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 tonnes 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.
The Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers has asked all states to give feedback on refurbishing the PCPIR.

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.

Andhra Pradesh has also merged its textile and pharmaceuticals SEZs into the PCPIR zone for optimum utilisation of the infrastructure already developed, said sources.

The Tamil Nadu PCPIR, on the other hand, has got a commitment from private partner Nagarjuna Fertilizers and Chemicals for a six-million tonne per year capacity petroleum refinery project.

The company has already formed a joint venture company, Nagarjuna Oil Corporation, in partnership with the Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation (Tidco) for the project, which will have captive marine facility (Thiruchopuram Port), tank terminals and a captive power plant. The total investment for the project is estimated at Rs 11,000 crore, and it is slated to be commissioned in the first quarter of 2014.

The project is designated as the anchor unit of the PCPIR to be established in Cuddalore and Nagapattinam districts.

However, Tamil Nadu is yet to sign the Memorandum of Understanding with the central government, said state government sources.

[Malayaali]

‘Refinery expansion can transform Kochi into petrochemical hub’

BPCL is undertaking a major expansion of its Kochi Refinery at a cost of over Rs 14,000 crore. Along with this, the corporation is also setting up a Rs 4,500-crore petrochemical complex jointly with the LG Chem of South Korea.

According to John Minu Mathew, Executive Director, Kochi Refinery, these projects could pave the way for development of a host of downstream units in and around Kochi and other parts of Kerala.

In a conversation with Business Line, Mathew said the expansion is also aimed at improving the quality of the fuels produced by the refinery as auto fuels in Kerala is expected to be Euro IV-compliant by 2015.

ON REFINERY EXPANSION

The expansion consists of three different sets of projects. I would like to call them three envelopes with each envelope consisting of different units.

The first one in envelope A is a new crude unit: We are expanding the refinery capacity from 9.5 million tonnes a year to 15.5 mt.

In fact, we are setting up a 10.5-mt a year crude unit. This is because our existing 4.5 million crude unit set up in 1966 is not so fuel-efficient. We will discontinue operation of this unit and put up a modern 10.5 million unit. So the net addition would be 6 million.

Second unit in envelope A will be a fluid catalytic cracking unit (FCCU). This petrochemical unit can produce a significant quantity of propylene. Currently, we are producing about 50,000 tonnes a year and after the expansion our propylene capacity will go up to five lakh tonnes a year. This will be a major addition to our product portfolio.

The third is the delayed coker unit. This is meant for upgrading the bottom products. We would be producing about 1.5 million tonnes of petroleum coke from this unit.

Besides, auto fuels, we will also produce LPG, the production capacity of which will more than double from the present five lakh tonnes a year to 11 lt.

The first set of projects in envelope A, estimated to cost Rs 14,250 crore, is scheduled to be completed by fiscal 2015-16 and will be funded by BPCL.

ON EURO COMPLIANCE

This expansion is also aimed at improving the quality of the motor fuels we produce. By 2015, the auto fuels used in Kerala is expected to be Euro IV compliant. By then, all our auto fuels will also be meeting Euro IV and partly Euro V specifications.

ON PETROCHEMICAL JV

In the Envelope B, the main project will be a joint venture petrochemicals complex, estimated at Rs 4,500 crore. We have signed an MoU with LG Chemicals of South Korea. It will be located near our exiting refinery. Our refinery will supply propylene for the joint venture through a pipeline. B

ON DOWNSTREAM UNITS

In the envelope C, there will be units for producing down stream products.

Using our products as inputs, they can manufacture at least 25 different products.

These units are expected to come up in the petrochemical park being proposed by KSIDC.

Petroleum coke can be used by cement and power plants as fuel.

It is possible to put up a 400-MW power plant using petroleum coke from our unit as fuel and the cost of production of power will be attractive.

We will produce about 1,000 tonnes per day of sulphur. This can be used for making fertilisers.

We are in discussion with FACT for supplying this. Right now, they are importing more or less the same quantity of sulphur. We would be able to supply it through pipeline as molten sulphur.

ON STATE SUPPORT

The State Government has agreed to give fiscal concessions for our projects through deferment/waiver of VAT, CST and Works Contract Tax, which make our project financially viable.

BPCL’s major foray into petrochemicals could transform Kochi into a petrochemical hub with the setting up of various downstream/ancillary units.

[mohammedirshad06]

Works for LPG Terminal to commence soon

The procedures for floating tenders to establish a jetty and terminal for LPG at Puthuvypeen will begin after a month. The Rs.600 crore project, being set up by Indian Oil Corporation Limited, in association with Cochin Port Trust, has been accepted in principle and an agreement was signed by the partners recently. A formal approval is expected at the IOCL Director Board to be held within a month. Speaking to The Hindu , N. Srikumar, IOCL Executive Director, said the project would be completed in a time-bound manner. It would take about 30-35 months to commission the project, he said.

The terminal would be able to handle vessels bringing in LPG which could be transported to the three bottling plants of IOCL in the State, situated at Udayamperoor in Kochi, Parippally in Kollam and Chelari in Kozhikkode. At present, LPG is transported in bullet tankers from Mangalore to the IOCL plants in Kerala. The new arrangement would greatly reduce difficulties in transportation. Accidents involving LPG tankers causing devastating fires and deaths, such as the one which occurred in Kozhikode a few months ago, could also be averted.

Mr. Srikumar said the company was keen to distribute LPG to consumers within a reasonable time period.

[passionfruit12]

Proposed power projects remain non-starters

At a time when Minister for Power Aryadan Muhammed emphasises that load-shedding is here to stay, proposed remedies for the acute power crisis in the state remain non-starters. The Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) is yet to sign an MoU with the Petronet LNG Ltd (PLL) for the 1,200 megawatt(MW) LNG power plant at Puthuvype.

Moreover, no steps have been taken to start the 500-MW power project using petcoke produced by the BPCL Kochi Refinery after the completion of the proposed integrated refinery expansion project. These two projects with a capacity of 1,700 MW with estimated cost of ` 9,000 crore will take at least three years to realise.

Though Aryadan told ‘Express’ that the MoU with the Petronet LNG will be signed this year and steps will be taken to implement the petcoke-based power project soon, experts feel that there will be more delay for the commencement of these projects.

Petcoke is a residue left after the refining of crude and has a high calorific value and is also high in sulphur. One kilogram petcoke produces 6,000 kilos of calorie, 150 per cent more calorie than the same quantity of coal produces. “Power from the petcoke-based plant will be available at a rate of `5 per unit. The feasibility study of the project has already been done. Next step is to conduct a detailed feasibility study. And land has to be acquired for the implementation of the project. A political decision is the need of the hour. It will take one year to get environmental clearance for the project,” said E Nandakumar, former executive director, BPCL Kochi Refinery.

It is estimated that 150 acres of land is needed for the project. The total cost for it will be `5000 crore. No decision has been taken so far regarding the equity split up of the project as well. After getting all the approvals at least it will take at least three years to complete the project. On the proposed LNG power plant, Pushp Khetarpal, senior vice-president, Petronet LNG-Kochi, said that he has no idea when the MoU will be signed with the KSEB. Fifty acres of land adjacent to the LNG terminal on Puthyvype island has been earmarked for the LNG project.

http://newindianexpress.com/states/k...cle1339949.ece

[KMC]

BPCL Kochi Refinery expansion project gets environmental clearance

KOCHI: The Rs 14,225 crore integrated refinery expansion project (IREP) of Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd. 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 tonnes from the present 9.5 million tonnes, 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.

BPCLBSE -0.69 % 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 estimated investment for the project is estimated to be in the range of Rs 5000-6000 crore.
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 tonnes of petcoke will also be produced from projects, which along with propylene is expected to provide a fillip to the industry in Kerala.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/...w/17325475.cms

[flagcounter]

[Asskicker]

http://www.business-standard.com/ind...arance/493462/

The Ministry of Environment & Forests has granted clearance to the integrated refinery expansion project (IREP) of Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited at Kochi refinery.

The project envisages increasing the capacity of the refinery by 6 million tonnes (mt) per annum to 15.5 mt from the present 9.5 mt. The estimated cost is Rs 14,225 crore and it is scheduled to be completed by December 201
The company also plans to modernise the refinery to produce auto-fuels complying with Euro-IV and V specifications, upgrade low value refinery residue stream to value-added products and produce propylene, a major petrochemical feedstock.

BPCL plans to utilise propylene to make petrochemical products like acrylates and super absorbent polymer that are predominantly imported into the country. For this, it is setting up a petro-chemical complex at the refinery in a joint venture with

LG Chem of South Korea, where the latter will bring its technology and marketing expertise.

The complex is expected to be commissioned along with the IPE project and involve an investment of Rs 5,000-6,000 crore.

The state government, which signed a memorandum of understanding with BPCL during the Emerging Kerala Investors Meet in September for this, had agreed to extend various incentives like deferment of Kerala General Sales Tax/VAT and Central Sales Tax and exemption of works contract tax for the project.

The plant would also produce about 1.3 mt per annum petcoke. This also envisages the possibility of setting up a petcoke-based power plant, according to a release.

State public sector undertakings like Kerala Minerals and Metals Limited and Travancore Cements could use the petcoke produced from this project.

The investment totalling about Rs 20,000 crore for both the projects is the single largest investment in Kerala.

[bijuarr]

Farmers oppose laying of Kochi-Bangalore gas pipeline through lands in Sankagiri in Salem District


Special Correspondent

Farmers in Salem district strongly opposed the laying of gas pipeline by Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL) through their lands in Sankagiri taluk.

They expressed their resentment over the Cochin-Bangalore project that traverses the districts of Coimbatore, Salem, Erode, Namakkal, Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri at the consultative meeting organised by Salem Collector K. Maharabushanam on Tuesday.

The pipeline is proposed to be laid through the villages of Morur, Kasturipatti, Annathanapatti, Iveli, Avarangampalayam, Vettukadupatti, Olakasikanur, Vaikundam, Agrahara Thalaiyur, Kanendri, Pudur, Ekapuram and Edankanasalai for a distance of about 70 kilometres in 350 acres of lands, which are under cultivation.

The farmers and their representatives who took part in the meeting pointed out that the pipeline could be laid along the National Highways.

The same, they claimed, had been conveyed to the Ministry concerned. State government also had been approached in this issue.

Hence they urged the administration not to permit the laying of pipeline through farm lands in the villages.

The farmers further claimed that in case of accident, loss of life and property would be enormous.

Reacting to their views, the Collector said that development works in the interest of State and society should not be stalled. GAIL had conveyed that adequate compensation would be paid to those who would be giving their lands for laying the pipeline.

The farmers, however, struck to their views urging the district administration to convey their resentment over the project to the authorities concerned.

Government’s views

Collector Maharabushanam said that he had conveyed the government’s views and would inform the farmers’ stand on the issue to the State.

Sankagiri tasildhar R. Rajendiran and other senior revenue officials were present at the meeting.

http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper...cle4169640.ece

[Ern33est]

This thread is to discuss news, informations and pics about these projects.

[bijuarr]

Originally Posted by Ern33est

This thread is to discuss news, informations and pics about these projects.

Which are the "these" projects?

[psanthosh]

Detailed project report soon for 500 MW petcoke power plant

KOCHI: An agency will soon be appointed to prepare the detailed project report (DPR) for the 500 MW petcoke-based power plant, planned jointly by the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) and BPCL Kochi Refinery Ltd, in the city.

The decision to prepare the DPR was taken following a preliminary study conducted by a committee comprising representatives of both KSEB and Kochi refinery.

The committee had submitted its report to the state government last month. According to sources, the study endorsed setting up a petcoke-based project in the city as it would enable low-cost production of electricity.

KSEB sources said the cost of power would be low. "We can produce electricity from the plant at a cost of Rs 5 to 6 per unit. The project can be implemented if the Kochi refinery supplies petroleum coke at a fixed rate for three to four years. The running cost is also low," said a KSEB official. Various types of technologies, including gas turbines, are available for producing power using petcoke. It is also free of pollution. The plant would require 300 acres of land.

Land is not expected to be a problem as officials have already identified some areas for the project. "The production facility can be set up near the Kochi refinery and the distribution facility at Brahmapuram," said the official. The Kochi refinery will be able to produce 13-15 tonnes of petcoke after the expansion of the refinery by 2015.

KSEB officials said the project can be beneficial for the city, especially when the Kochi Metro rail project becomes a reality.

"Ernakulam district accounts for one-eighth of the state's total power consumption. This is expected to go up further in the future with more number of companies coming up in Kochi," said another official.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/c...w/17686147.cms

[Malayaali]

BPCL Kochi Refinery: Rs 20,000 crore worth projects to take off soon

IREP: Rs 14,225 crore project to raise production capacity from 9.5 Million MT to 15.5 Million MT, upgrade fuel to Euro 4,5 standards
Rs 7000 crore worth projects comprising Petrochemical Park JV with LG Chem, South Korea, KSEB-BPCL JV for 500 mW petcoke-based power plant, Plant to produce O2, H2 & N2, Kochi-Coimbatore gas pipeline etc.

ബിപിസിഎൽ കൊച്ചി റിഫൈനറി: വൻകുതിപ്പിന് നിലമൊരുങ്ങി

കൊച്ചി: ബിപിസിഎൽ കൊച്ചി റിഫൈനറിയിൽ 20,000 കോടി രൂപയുടെ വൻ വികസന വൈവിധ്യവൽക്കരണ പദ്ധതിയുടെ പ്രാഥമിക പ്രവർത്തനങ്ങൾ പൂർത്തിയാകുന്നു. ഉൽപാദന ശേഷി 70 ശതമാനത്തോളം വർധിപ്പിക്കുന്നതിനും പെട്രോളിയം ഉൽപന്നങ്ങളുടെ ഗുണമേന്മ ലോക നിലവാരത്തിലെത്തിക്കുന്നതിനും പുറമേ, കോയമ്പത്തൂർ വരെ പാചക വാതക പൈപ്പ് ലൈൻ, 500 മെഗാവാട്ടിന്റെ വൈദ്യുതി നിലയം, ഓക്സിജൻ, ഹൈഡ്രജൻ, നൈട്രജൻ എന്നിവ ഉൽപാദിപ്പിക്കാൻ പ്ലാന്റ് തുടങ്ങിയ വൻ നേട്ടങ്ങൾക്കും വഴിയൊരുക്കുന്നു.

ഇന്റഗ്രേറ്റഡ് റിഫൈനറി എക്സ്പാൻഷൻ പ്രോജക്ടിന് ഈയിടെയാണു കേന്ദ്ര വനം പരിസ്ഥിതി മന്ത്രാലയത്തിന്റെ അനുമതി ലഭിച്ചത്. മൊത്തം 14,225 കോടി രൂപയുടെ നിക്ഷേപം വികസന പദ്ധതിക്കു മാത്രം വേണ്ടിവരും. അനുമതികൾക്കു കാത്തിരുന്ന് സമയം കളയാതെ മുന്നൊരുക്കങ്ങൾ ചെയ്തതാണ് പദ്ധതിയുടെ പ്രാഥമിക പ്രവർത്തനങ്ങൾ വേഗം പൂർത്തിയാക്കാൻ സഹായകമായതെന്ന് എക്സിക്യൂട്ടീവ് ഡയറക്ടർ ജോൺ മിനു മാത്യു പറഞ്ഞു.

റിഫൈനറി സംയുക്ത സംരംഭങ്ങൾക്കും ലക്ഷ്യംവയ്ക്കുന്നു. പെട്രോകെമിക്കൽ പാർക്കിൽ 7000 കോടിയോളം രൂപയുടെ നിക്ഷേപം ഇത്തരത്തിലായിരിക്കും. റിഫൈനറിക്ക് ആവശ്യമായ ഓക്സിജൻ, ഹൈഡ്രജൻ, നൈട്രജൻ എന്നീ വാതകങ്ങൾ നിലവിൽ സ്വന്തം നിലയിൽ ഉൽപാദിപ്പിക്കുകയാണ്. എന്നാൽ വികസന പദ്ധതിയുടെ ഭാഗമായി വിഭാവനം ചെയ്തിരിക്കുന്നത് റിഫൈനറിയുടെ അതിർത്തിക്കുള്ളിൽ സ്വകാര്യ പങ്കാളിത്തത്തിലൂടെ ഇതിനു പ്ലാന്റ് സ്ഥാപിക്കാനാണ്. 200 കോടി രൂപയുടെ നിക്ഷേപം ഇതിന് ആവശ്യമുണ്ട്.

വൈദ്യുതോൽപാദന പ്ലാന്റ് കെഎസ്ഇബിയുമായി ചേർന്നു സ്ഥാപിക്കാൻ ഉദ്ദേശിക്കുന്നു. 500 മെഗാവാട്ടിന്റെ പദ്ധതിയുടെ വിശദാംശങ്ങൾ സംബന്ധിച്ച പഠനം ഉടനെ പൂർത്തിയാകും. ക്രൂഡ് ഓയിലിൽനിന്ന് ശുദ്ധീകരണത്തിനു ശേഷം പ്രതിവർഷം 13 ലക്ഷം ടൺ പെട്രോളിയം കോക്ക് ലഭിക്കുമെന്നു കണക്കാക്കുന്നു. ഇത് ഉപയോഗിച്ച് വൈദ്യുതി ഉൽപാദിപ്പിക്കുമ്പോൾ, നാഫ്ത ഇന്ധനമാക്കുന്നതിന്റെ 60% ചെലവേ വരികയുള്ളൂ.

വികസനം പൂർത്തിയാകുമ്പോൾ, റിഫൈനറിക്കു മാത്രം വേണ്ടിവരുന്നത് 160 മെഗാവാട്ട് വൈദ്യുതിയാണ്. ശേഷിച്ചത്, കെഎസ്ഇബിക്ക് നൽകുകയും ചെയ്യാം. ബിപിസിഎല്ലിന്റെ സ്വന്തം നിലയ്ക്കുള്ള ഭാരിച്ച നിക്ഷേപം കുറയ്ക്കുക എന്ന ലക്ഷ്യവും സംയുക്ത സംരംഭങ്ങൾക്കുണ്ട്.

ഇന്ധനങ്ങളുടെ ഗുണമേന്മ ഉയർത്തുമ്പോൾ, സൾഫറിന്റെ അംശം ഗണ്യമായികുറയും. നിലവിൽ പ്രതിദിനം 210 ടൺ സൾഫർ ലഭിക്കുന്നുണ്ട്. വികസനത്തിനു ശേഷം ഇത് 1000 ടണ്ണിലെത്തും. പൈപ്പ് ലൈൻ വഴി ദ്രവ രൂപത്തിലുള്ള സൾഫർ ഫാക്ടിന് നൽകാൻ പദ്ധതിയുണ്ട്. പാചക വാതകത്തിന്റെ ഉൽപാദനം നിലവിലെ 5 ലക്ഷം ടണ്ണിൽനിന്ന് പ്രതിവർഷം 10 ലക്ഷം ടൺ എന്ന തോതിലെത്തും.

രാജ്യത്തിന് ആവശ്യമായ പാചക വാതകത്തിന്റെ ഒരു പങ്ക് ഇറക്കുമതി ചെയ്യുകയാണ്. പ്രതിമാസം 6000 ടണ്ണാണ്, കേരളത്തിലെ ആവശ്യത്തിനായി ഇവിടെനിന്ന് നൽകുന്നത്. കൊച്ചിയിൽനിന്ന് കോയമ്പത്തൂരിലേക്ക് പൈപ്പ് ലൈൻ വഴി പാചക വാതകം എത്തിക്കാനും ഉദ്ദേശ്യമുണ്ട്. കൊച്ചി കോയമ്പത്തൂർ കരൂർ പൈപ്പ് ലൈനിന് സമാന്തരമായി, പൈപ്പിടുവാൻ സാധ്യത ആരായുന്നു.

ഭൂമി ഏറ്റെടുക്കുന്നതിന്റെ പ്രശ്നങ്ങൾ ഇതുവഴി ഒഴിവാക്കാനാകും. മാത്രമല്ല, വിവിധ കേന്ദ്രങ്ങളിൽനിന്ന് വാതകമെടുത്തു പ്രാദേശികമായി വിതരണം ചെയ്യാനും വീടുകളിലേക്ക് പൈപ്പ് ലൈൻ വഴി വാതകമെത്തിക്കാനുള്ള സിറ്റി ഗ്യാസ് പദ്ധതിയിൽ പങ്കാളിയാകാനും ഇതു സാധ്യമാക്കും.