Mangaluru, DHNS:The Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited (MRPL), a Mini Ratna PSU, is planning to set up a raw petroleum coke gasification complex at an estimated cost of Rs 12,000 crore to Rs 15,000 crore in the coming years.

Addressing reporters here on Monday, MRPL Managing Director H?Kumar said the company wants to explore hydro carbon molecule and convert petrol into synthetic gas. It may take 48 to 50 months to set up the plant of 1,000 degree room temperature. “It is intended to produce ‘Syngas’ (synthetic gas) with subsequent potential to produce value-added chemicals such as urea (fertiliser), acetic acid, acryilate in addition to linear alkyl benzene (LAB), a feed stock to produce detergents.”

Kumar said MRPL?has planned a slew of new projects in the wake of the Centre’s autofuel upgradation policy. Accordingly, the company will upgrade its existing facilities to produce BS-VI grade petrol and diesel by 2020. The company will reduce sulphur content in petrol and diesel to 10 pars per million (PPM) level and bring down environment pollution caused by fuel emissions. Plans are on to enhance the refining capacity to 18/21 million metric tonnes per annum with low cost revamp, he added.

To a query, Kumar said, “The demand for petrol has grown by 14 % and diesel by 8%. ?Karnataka accounts for 85% of the demand, followed by Andhra Pradesh and Mahrashtra.”

Clears USD 1.45 bn dues
Kumar said?MRPL till now has paid USD 1.45 billion against USD 2.46 billion that was due to Iran since 2013 towards import of crude oil.

Earlier, there was no banking channel because of the sanction imposed by the US. Now, the pending dues are paid through State Bank of India and Germany’s EIH, he added.