BPCL’s Project Delay to Offset Supply Recovery of Oxo-Alcohols in India

Bharat Petrochemical Corporation Limited (BPCL), India’s renowned state-controlled oil and gas company, has announced an indefinite delay in two of its petrochemical projects in Kochi due to extended international travel restrictions. The project with production facilities of 212 KTPA of Oxo-Alcohols and Acrylates and 160 KTPA of Acrylic Acid was scheduled to be commissioned in 2019 October but was postponed due to unforeseen circumstances to April- September 2020. As for the commissioning, the presence of technology licensor from Europe is mandatory, BPCL is unable to take commencement forward till August 31 and has further delayed it due to strict travel restrictions. The company stated that it can take up to 3 months from the start of international travel for commissioning. As India is currently facing supply shortage of Oxo Alcohols due to maintenance turnarounds at several plants in east Asia, further delay in BPCL Kochi Project is a hard hit on the already struggling demand and supply fundamentals of the product.