Bhubaneswar: In a bid to attract downstream industries to the state, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik Thursday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi for setting up an integrated Naphtha Cracker unit in Paradip.
“An integrated Naphtha Cracker unit needs to be set up urgently if the objectives of setting up the Petroleum, Chemicals and Petrochemicals Investment Region (PCPIR) are to be realised,” Naveen wrote to Modi.
The unit would provide possibility of maximising production of ethylene, propylene, butadiene and aromatic cuts, he said, adding that these will work as feedstock for a variety of industries that could serve the increasing demand of petrochemical products in the country across sectors such as textiles, polymers, pharmaceuticals, specialty chemicals etc.
The establishment of a cracker unit was proposed at a meeting conveyed by the Union petroleum and natural gas minister in January 2014. During the meet, IOCL was advised to evolve a time-bound plan for producing power from gas instead of naphtha.
The state Chief Secretary in May 2015 had requested Cabinet Secretary to intervene in the matter to impress upon IOCL to establish a Naphtha Cracker unit. However, the project is yet to be taken up.
PNN
