Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) has kick started a cracker unit at Panipat refinery in Haryana.

IOC kick started feed cutting on 11 March 2010. First on-spec product is likely to be out in four-five days and it will take 15-20 days to commission most of the downstream polymer units. Stabilisation and ramping up the throughput is likely to take three to four months. This development is likely to help IOC to make value-added products from surplus naphtha.

The cracker will require 2,00,000 tonne of naphtha at full capacity every month. The naphtha is to be sourced from IOC's Koyali plant in Gujarat and Panipat (Haryana) and Mathura refinery in Uttar Pradesh.

The naphtha cracker, which is capable of producing 8,00,000 tonne of ethylene and 6,00,000 tonne of poly propylene per annum, will initially run at about 60 per cent capacity.

Also See:

IOC’s Panipat unit to be commissioned by April 2010 (07-Sep-09)