Haldia Petrochemicals is set to receive a reported Rs 6,000-crore investment from Adparma, with a new facility and expanded phenol and acetone production planned at the West Bengal complex. Chief Minister Shubhendu Adhikari is scheduled to attend the inauguration in Haldia on October 14, according to Sangbad Pratidin.
The investment comes as industries continue to face pressure from global oil and chemical supply disruptions. The report said the proposed expansion is intended to strengthen domestic production and reduce dependence on imported chemicals used by sectors including pharmaceuticals, automobiles, electronics and paints.
The new facility will primarily produce acetone, while the existing phenol and acetone plants at Haldia Petrochemicals will also be expanded. The project has set production targets of 345 kilotonnes per annum of phenol and 215 kilotonnes per annum of acetone.
Haldia Petrochemicals produces phenol and acetone, which are used as industrial chemical inputs. The complex also operates as an integrated manufacturing platform, bringing production, packaging and distribution activities together at one location. According to the report, this integrated arrangement supports supply to industrial areas in West Bengal and other parts of India.
The planned expansion is expected to increase the availability of high-quality chemical products for industries within the state. The report said the project is particularly important for domestic supply and could help reduce dependence on overseas sources for these materials.
Haldia has been described in the report as the largest factory in north-eastern India. The proposed investment is expected to increase the production capacity of the petrochemical complex and broaden the range of chemical manufacturing in eastern India.
Haldia Petrochemicals authorities also expect the expansion to support the development of downstream and ancillary industries around the facility. Such industries could use the chemicals produced at the complex in manufacturing and processing activities, although the report did not provide details of specific companies, employment numbers or a commissioning schedule.
The investment is being presented as part of efforts to strengthen domestic manufacturing under the Atmanirbhar Bharat programme. Its immediate implementation will depend on the completion of the new facility and the expansion of the existing plants. The inauguration ceremony scheduled for October 14 is the next stated milestone for the project.
