Bharat Petroleum Corporation (BPCL), India's second largest state-owned fuel retailer, is planning to set up a petrochemical plant at its 12 million tonne per annum Mumbai refinery at a cost of Rs 6,877 crore.
The Petrochemical Residue Fluidized Catalytic Cracking (PRFCC) project is part of a larger plan by the Oil Marketing Company to expand its petrochemicals portfolio.
The complex is expected to maximize Propylene production which is used as feed stock for producing Polypropylene. Polypropylene is a polymer used in industrial applications including packaging, plastics, textiles, living hinges and the automobile industry.
“BPCL intends to diversify into Petrochemical products with major focus on Ethylene or Propylene-based petrochemical products to further improve refinery profitability," the company said in an application to the environment ministry seeking clearance for setting up the project.
It added that a recent study has recommended setting up the PRFCC complex with the intent of maximizing Polymer Grade Propylene production which will feed a Polypropylene complex being planned at Rasayani, 50 Kilometer from the Mumbai Refinery.
BPCL said the PRFCC project is part of the modernization plan of the Mumbai refinery and it will replace the refinery’s vintage Catalytic Cracking Unit (CCU) commissioned in 1955 and the Fluidized Catalytic Cracking Unit (FCCU) commissioned in 1985.
PRFCC will convert a mix feed of heavy, viscous Vacuum Residue (VR), Vacuum Gasoil (VGO) and Unconverted Cycle Oil (UCO) into Propylene, Ethylene, High Octane Gasoline, Light Cycle Oil and Slurry Oil.
The project is expected to be completed in 36 months from the date of the grant of environment clearance.
