Dibrugarh, December 14, 2008:- Shri Tarun Gogoi, Hon'ble Chief Minister, Assam today reviewed the progress of the Gas Cracker project being implemented by Brahmaputra Cracker and Polymers Limited at Lepetkata here. Shri Prithibi Majhi, Hon'ble Minister of Water Resources, Labour and Employment, Welfare of Tea Tribes, Government of Assam and Shri Pradyut Bordoloi, Hon’ble Minister of Power, Industries and Commerce, Government of Assam were also present.

Shri A.K. Puruwaha, Director (Business Development), GAIL made a presentation on the progress of various activities undertaken by BCPL to implement the Rs. 5460 crore, 260,000 TPA petrochemical plant. Mr. J K Singh Teotia, Chief Operating Officer of BCPL and senior officials of BCPL & EIL were also present. Hon’ble Chief Minister expressed his satisfaction over the progress of the project. Later speaking to media persons, he said that the project would be completed on schedule and assured full support from the State Government for the implementation of the project.

The construction work of the Central Control Room which is the heart of the plant and monitors and controls the integrated operations including upstream (gas processing and gas cracking) and downstream (polymer) sections has already begun.

The work of Barbed wire Fencing commenced in May 2008 and is almost complete. Construction of construction power, site office, non-plant buildings, Administrative building is in progress. BCPL shall establish gas dehydration and compressor facilities at Duliajan for carrying 6 MMSCMD of natural gas from OIL, Duliajan to Lepetkata plant where C2 plus liquids shall be recovered and the lean gas shall be sent back to OIL, Duliajan for further distribution to gas customers. Twin pipelines shall be laid between Duliajan & Lepetkata.

The Basic Design Engineering Basis for Polypropylene and LLDPE / HDPE Units has been finalized and License Agreements are expected to be completed by end of this year. Route survey for Lakwa – Lepetkata Pipeline has been completed.

Total land measuring 3000 Bighas has been taken-over by BCPL at Lepetkata. Also the land measuring 400 Bighas & 70 Bighas for BCPL & CISF townships respectively has been taken over by BCPL. 45 Bighas of land at Duliajan required for setting up the Compressor station has been identified and 6(1) notification issued. Local Administration Dibrugarh has assured for Land handing-over this land by December 30, 2008.

BCPL has awarded Project Management Consultancy job to India’s premier engineering Public Sector Company Engineers India Limited (EIL). The work for topographical survey, geotechnical survey and ODC transport study has been completed. Process Design basis has been completed for all units where EIL is the Licensor.

The Licensors for C2+ extraction units, Gas Sweetening units, Gas De-hydration units have been awarded, and basic design & engineering has been completed. The Licensors for all the remaining process units have been selected. The Licensors for LLDPE/HDPE swing unit and Polypropylene unit have been appointed.

GAIL (India) Limited led Joint Venture Company (JVC), Brahmaputra Cracker and Polymer Limited (BCPL) is implementing the Rs. 5460 Crore Assam Gas Cracker Project to set-up an integrated Petrochemical Complex at Lepetkata, District Dibrugarh. The Joint Venture Company (JVC) promoted by GAIL with 70% equity participation and the remaining 30% equity is shared equally among OIL, NRL and Govt. of Assam. The project will be completed in 60 months.

The petrochemical complex will comprise of Ethylene cracker unit, downstream polymer and integrated off-site/utilities plants. The complex has been configured with a capacity of 220,000 tons per annum (TPA) of Ethylene and 60,000 tons per annum of propylene with Natural Gas and Naphtha as feed stock.

The Petrochemical Complex will produce 220,000 Tons per annum (TPA) of HDPE/LLDPE, 60000 TPA of Polypropylene, 55000 TPA of Raw Pyrolysis Gasoline and 12,500 TPA of Fuel oil.

OIL and NRL shall supply 6 MMSCMD of natural gas and 160,000 TPA of naphtha respectively as feedstock to the complex. The balance feedstock requirement of 1.3 MMSCMD of gas up to 2012 and 1 MMSCMD thereafter is considered from ONGC.

Existing C3/C4 recovery plant of GAIL at Lakwa shall be modified to C2 plus liquids recovery plant. C2 plus liquids shall be brought from Lakwa to Lepetkata plant through pipeline. Gas Cracker Plant at Lepetkata shall be getting C2 plus liquids from GAIL Plant at Lakwa, natural gas from OIL at Duliajan and Naphtha from NRL as feedstock for petrochemical plant at Lepetkata.

Shri A K Purwaha, Director (Business Development), GAIL briefing Shri Tarun Gogoi, Hon'ble Chief Minister, Assam about the progress of the project to set up a petrochemical plant in Lepetkata, Dibrugarh during the visit of Hon’ble Chief Minister to the project site on December 14, 2008