KOCHI:Ambalamugal, a small township adjacent to Kochi city but an industrial area surrounded by a large refinery, fertiliser and chemical factories, LNG terminal and gas pipeline network being established, a bulk terminal and International Container Transhipment Terminal (ICTT), would soon be transformed into a teeming industrial hub with a warren of industrial units as the state government has granted in -principle approval for the negotiated purchase of 487 acres of land of FACT for the development of petrochemical complex by KINFRA.
The approximately Rs 1,000 crore land deal is expected to catalyze the economic growth and regional development in the region as the Petrochemical Park will pave way for an estimated investment to the tune of Rs 4,000 crores in industrial ventures in the financial capital of Kerala and it is expected to generate a direct employment for 5,000 persons and indirect employment for 15,000 persons through the industrial ventures inside the park.
Kinfra has proposed to develop infrastructure facilities such as internal roads, drainage, water treatment plants, internal water supply system, internal electrification, common sewage treatment plant, common effluent treatment plant, rainwater harvesting and solid waste management.
Ambalamugal already has a large refinery, fertilizer and chemical factories, and LNG gas pipeline connectivity. The town which fairly isolated from the commercial part of Ernakulam town is a logistically-convenient location as the distance to Cochin Port is only 20 kms, 5 kms to nearest railway station Tripunithura and 35 kms to Cochin International Airport.
Industry experts say the park will facilitate many downstream projects and the investments in the sector will be substantial leading rise to various local industries which caters to these large-scale projects.
The petrochemical park is set up in the background of BPCL Kochi Refinery at Ambalamugal carrying out a major expansion of refining capacity from 9.5 mtpa to 15.5 mtpa will generate opportunities for various petrochemical downstream units.
With the increased crude capacity, the refinery will produce 500000 TPA Propylene as a by-product, in addition to motor spirit, HSD, LPG, kerosene, ATF, petroleum coke and bitumen. After the expansion, 75,000 tonnes of ethylene will be available for further downstream projects.
The products like acrylic acid, butyl acrylate, iso butanol etc will form the base products for various other downstream projects. Utilising these, industries catering to the manufacturing of detergents, pulp & paper, textiles, surface coatings, water treatment, paints and coatings, dispersions, inks, sealants, pressure sensitive tapes, plasticisers and solvents can set shop in the petrochemical plant.
New beginnings
Kinfra’s Petrochemical Park at Ambalamugal is expected to be operational by 2020
487 acres of land is made available for the project, 30 per cent of which would be set aside for maintaining green vegetation
25 industrial units to be set up inside the park
Rs 4000 crores in industrial ventures expected once the park becomes fully operational
Direct employment generated through the park for 5,000 persons and the indirect employment will be for 15,000 persons
Aiding the upcoming park, BPCL is implementing a petrochemical project involving an estimated cost of Rs 4500 crore, scheduled to be commissioned by mid-2018