Hydrocarbon Vision 2030 (ஹைட்ரோகார்பன் தொலைநோக்கு ஆவணம் 2030)

After BCPL project goes into production stream on consistent basis, it is expected that polymer
sourcing from outside the North East Region will gradually reduce / stop. Further, as the raw material
for the plastic processing industries will locally be available there will be development of new plastic
processing industries in this sector and consumption of polymer will increase. BCPL has also
conducted several entrepreneur development-cum-awareness programs in the NE region. With
these programs BCPL has been able to successfully spread the message amongst the prospective
entrepreneurs about the importance and significance of polymer business. It is expected that with
such campaign, polymer business may gradually grow in North East region in the time to come.
Numaligarh Refinery expansion plan, Assam
Numaligarh Refinery Ltd (NRL) is planning to expand its refining capacity from 3 MMTPA to 9 MMTPA
by 2020. The mega refinery expansion plan of NRL will call for capital expenditure to the tune of Rs
20,000 crore.
While about 70% of the products would be lifted by NRL's holding company, Bharat Petroleum (BPCL)
to fulfill its existing demand for POL products, the region and its geographically contiguous
neighbouring countries like Bangladesh, Nepal and Myanmar are being explored for selling the
balance products.
The company has already inked two important memorandums of understanding (MoU), one with
Dhamra Port Company Limited (DPCL) for import of crude oil and LPG and the other with Cement
Corporation of India (CCI) for utilisation of raw petroleum coke, likely to be generated at NRL after its
proposed capacity expansion. The capacity expansion of the refinery is expected to address the subeconomic
size of the refinery which has been hindering the company’s scalability as well as
profitability. Considering the declining trend in domestic crude oil supplies from northeastern oil fields,
NRL will be importing crude oil to utilise the additional refining capacity. To facilitate transportation of
around 6 MMTPA imported crude oil from the Dhamra port in Orissa to Numaligarh, a new pipeline is
envisaged to be constructed. As of now, there is no plan of extension for the other refineries in the
region except NRL.
According to the company, additional products generated from the refinery expansion will primarily be
absorbed within the region. Moreover, part of NRL’s increased production is also envisaged to be
exported to Bangladesh through Parbatipur (150 km from the NRL terminal at Siliguri) while part
quantities are envisaged to be utilised for production of petrochemical grade naphtha for which
adequate demand exists within the country.
Fertiliser plant in Tripura – ONGC and Chambal Fertilizers
ONGC, Tripura government, and Chambal Fertilizers and Chemicals had signed an MOU to set up a
fertilizer plant in Unkoti district by 2016. The requirement of land is around 600-800 acres. The supply
of gas to the plant site would be made available from the newly discovered Khubal well in the area.
However, experts are yet to find out a regular source to bring in water to the plant site. The Tripura
government — which has a 10% share in the plant — hoped that Bangladesh would grant permission
for transportation of fertilisers to the rest of India through Bangladesh. The cross-border transit facility
would ease the price of urea and meet demand in a short time. Production of gas in Tripura is
projected at 2.8 MMSCMD. Half of the production is marked for the proposed fertiliser plant.
Plastic Park, Tinsukia, Assam
Assam Industrial Development Corporation Limited (AIDCL) is in the process of setting up a 360 acre
Plastic Park in Tinsukia, north of Guwahati that will use raw material produced by Brahmaputra
Crackers and Polymers Limited (BCPL) that is likely to come on-stream in around a year's time. The
idea is to utilise the 200,000 tonnes per annum polymer produced at BCPL to produce finished
products that can be sold in the neighbouring markets of Myanmar, Bangladesh, and Bhutan among
other regions in South-East Asia.
At least six or seven plastic processing companies from the state have decided to set up units at the
upcoming Tinsukia Plastic Park in Assam for a total investment close to Rs 150 crore in response to
Assam Industrial Development Corporation Ltd’s (AIDCL) campaign to attract investors to the Plastic
Park project. It expects to attract around Rs 5,000 crore-worth investments in the park.
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