Page 44 - Plastics News June 2018

Business news

Indian Oil to set up Rs 9 bn ethanol ExxonMobil starts up world's

plant in Gorakhpur largest petrochem plant

ndian Oil is looking to invest almost Rs 9 billion in a
Igreenfield second-generation ethanol plant in Uttar xxonMobil has started production from two new
Pradesh. The plant has been proposed in Gorakhpur, the Emulti-billion dollar plants producing petrochemicals
pocket borough of chief minister Yogi Adityanath, who used in adhesives and manufacturing tires. The first
is keenly following up on the project. IOC has sought plant equipped to produce up of 90,000 tonnes annually
50 acres from the defunct Dhuriapar cooperative sugar of its proprietary product, Escorez hydrogenated
mill in Gorakhpur for the proposed plant spread over hydrocarbon resins, is the world’s largest of its kind, the
supermajor said on Thursday. Hydrogenated hydrocarbon
resins are used in hot-melt adhesives, typically used in
packing or baby diapers. The second plant will produce
premium halobutyl rubber used in the manufacturing
of tires. It is equipped with an annual output capacity

an area of about 100 acres. The proposal come in the
wake of the petroleum ministry seeking to strengthen
sugarcane-extracted ethanol value chain for mixing in
petrol to cut oil import bill and provide remunerative
prices to farmers. Second generation ethanol plant uses
modern technology to produce biofuels from agricultural of 140,000 tonnes. These two new plants fall under a
residues, such as sugarcane byproducts. In comparison, multi-billion dollar expansion project at ExxonMobil’s
first-generation plants extracted biofuels directly from integrated manufacturing complex in Singapore. The
sugar and vegetable oils by employing conventional new plants expand on ExxonMobil’s flexible steam
technology. he state government was in favour of floating a cracking capability in Singapore, which provides a
joint venture (JV) company for the proposed ethanol plant range of feedstocks for upgraded specialty products
between IOC and the UP cooperative sugar mill federation. to meet growing long-term demand in Asia Pacific. The
However, the proposal would need vetting and subsequent Singapore complex also includes a new cogeneration
approval of the state cabinet, since it involves transfer unit at the refinery, bringing the total cogeneration
of land on lease. The issue was also discussed during the capacity of the site to over 440 megawatts, which will
recent Lucknow visit of petroleum minister Dharmendra help reduce emissions and support more efficient use of
Pradhan and now the issue is being fast-tracked by the energy. The two plants will add 140 jobs to ExxonMobil’s
state. Since, UP is the country’s top sugarcane and sugar existing workforce of more than 2,500 at its Singapore
producer, ethanol production has large untapped potential manufacturing complex. ExxonMobil has more than
in the state. 4,000 employees in Singapore.
IndianOil is India's flagship Maharatna national oil company ExxonMobil is one of Singapore’s largest foreign
with business interests straddling the entire hydrocarbon manufacturing investors with over S$25 billion in fixed
value chain from refining, pipeline transportation & asset investments. Our Singapore affiliate, ExxonMobil
marketing, to exploration & production of crude oil & gas, Asia Pacific Pte Ltd, (EMAPPL) has manufacturing
petrochemicals, gas marketing, alternative energy sources facilities which include refinery operations in Jurong
and globalisation of downstream operations. and a world-scale petrochemical plant on Jurong Island.

Plastics News June 2018 44