GAIL Plans Increase of Ethylene and Polyethylene Production in India

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Researched by Industrialinfo.com (Industrial Information Resources, Incorporated; Houston, Texas). Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL) (New Delhi, India) is planning an ethylene unit expansion (PEC 89000540) and a polyethylene unit addition (PEC 89000404) for the existing complex located in Auraiya, Uttar Pradesh, India (Plant 1041935) that will cost an estimated $150 million. The ethylene expansion will increase the annual production rate from 300,000 metric tons a year to 440,000 metric tons a year. The polyethylene unit addition will produce 120,000 metric tons a year.

Construction is expected to begin during the third quarter of this year and the projects are scheduled for completion during late 2006. The ethylene unit will have a third furnace added to the existing unit, which utilizes Stone & Webster technology. The polyethylene unit will produce high and low density polyethylene and will require the entire additional amount of ethylene being produced from the expansion.

GAIL was created by the government of India in August 1984 to establish a gas sector infrastructure in the country. Since its inception, GAIL has moved to include products and markets such as gas processing, petrochemicals, liquefied petroleum gas transmission, telecommunications, power, and gas exploration and production. GAIL was ranked among the top ten most profitable Indian companies in 2003.

GAIL has recently won awards from the British Safety Council, UK for the National Safety Award and the Sword of Honour in 2003.