A new phenol and acetone plant has been inaugurated in Haldia, West Bengal, as part of a reported Rs 6,000 crore investment on the banks of the Haldi River. The facility, developed by Adparma Private Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Haldia Petrochemicals Limited, is expected to increase chemical production and create direct and indirect employment in the industrial town.
According to a report by Sangbad Pratidin, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari inaugurated the plant in Haldia on Wednesday after visiting the facility. State Industry Minister Tapas Roy, Transport Minister Arjun Singh and Chief Secretary Manoj Kumar Agarwal were among the officials present at the event.
The facility is designed to produce 345 kilotonnes per annum of phenol and 215 kilotonnes per annum of acetone. The stated production targets cover two important chemical products used across industrial supply chains. The project is also expected to support increased output from Haldia Petrochemicals and strengthen supplies to industries within West Bengal, the report said.
The inauguration included a tour of the plant followed by a formal opening ceremony. The report said Adhikari also visited a temple inside the facility before inaugurating the plant by cutting a ribbon and lighting a ceremonial lamp.
Speaking at the event, Adhikari said, “No one can stop the industrial boom in the state,” and claimed that another Rs 10,000 crore of investment was in the pipeline. He also said Haldia Petrochemicals was showing the way for further industrial development in West Bengal.
The project has been presented as a step towards reducing dependence on supplies from outside the state and increasing the availability of high-quality chemical products within the regional market. Haldia authorities also expect the project to improve West Bengal’s production and supply capacity in the chemicals sector.
The plant’s proposed expansion could have implications beyond the facility itself. The report said the authorities expect ancillary industries to develop around Haldia Petrochemicals, potentially broadening the industrial ecosystem around the existing petrochemical complex. Such growth would depend on the commissioning and operation of the new production capacity, as well as the development of supporting supply chains and employment opportunities.
The investment also forms part of the state government’s broader claim that West Bengal is attracting fresh industrial activity. The report did not provide details on the project’s construction schedule, total employment numbers, commissioning timeline or the specific downstream industries expected to be supplied by the plant. Further official information on these milestones will determine how quickly the investment translates into operating capacity and local economic activity.
