KOCHI: The proposal to set up a petrochemical industrial zone in view of the capacity expansion of BPCL Kochi Refinery offers a lot of opportunities in terms of employment and business. The Finance Minister has earmarked `50 crore for land acquisition and preliminary work for the zone.“BPCL Kochi Refinery is implementing a Rs 18,000-crore project for capacity expansion in the next five years. This is considered to be the largest investment in the industrial sector of the state. It is expected that the capacity expansion will open up opportunities for allied industries which will also generate employment opportunities. The government has already announced certain tax exemptions for BPCL. A Petrochemical Industrial Zone will further enhance the possibilities in this sector,” the minister said during the Budget speech.With the capacity expansion of the refinery, the production of chemical compounds such as polypropylene and poly urethane is expected to increase. Polypropylene is a thermoplastic polymer used in a wide variety of applications including packaging and labelling, textiles (ropes, thermal underwear and carpets) stationery, plastic parts and reusable containers of various types, laboratory equipment, loudspeakers, automotive components, and polymer banknotes. “Since the number of industries using these compounds are low in India, they are being exported now. Though the amount of polypropylene produced in Kochi Refinery is unbridgeable presently, it is expected to go up in the near future. In such a situation, a petrochemical industrial zone will be advantageous for the industrial sector in the state,” said sources.
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