M-Chem to expand sodium acetate manufacturing unit in Gujarat

Sept 4: M-Chem Corporation is looking to expand its sodium acetate manufacturing unit located in the Bharuch district of the state of Gujarat. The expansion project envisages adding 750 MT per month capacity for production of sodium acetate (trihydrate/anhydrous). The company's Gujarat facility already has a production capacity of 100 MT per month and the expansion project will take its total capacity to 850 MT per month. As per the company the cost of the expansion project is pegged at Rs 45 lakh. The company has already applied for and received the first stage environmental clearance, subsequent to the project being considered in the 83rd meeting of the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) (Industry) held during July 14, 2008 and July 16, 2008. (Click on Details for further information)   Details

SIP to expand dispersing agent manufacturing unit in Gujarat

Sept 3: Shiv Industries Products (SIP) is looking to expand its dispersing agent manufacturing unit located in the Vapi district of the state of Gujarat. The expansion project envisages adding 400 MT per month capacity for production of dispersing agent based on naphthalene (real) for construction use. The company's Gujarat facility already produces 15 MT per month each of dispersing agent based on phenol and dispersing agent based on naphthalene (real) for disperse dyes use. As per the company the cost of the expansion project is pegged at Rs 69.25 lakh of which Rs 9 lakh will be used for environment protection measures. The company has already applied for and received the first stage environmental clearance, subsequent to the project being considered in the 83rd meeting of the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) held during July 14, 2008 and July 16, 2008. (Click on Details for further information)   Details

PDL mulls backward integration; modifies the company's Memorandum of Association

Sept 2: Pioneer Distilleries Limited (PDL) is mulling over backward integration consisting of cultivating and producing sugarcane, sorghum, sugar beet, sago and palmyra juice and will be amending its Memorandum of Association for the same. In addition, the company is also considering engaging itself into the business of producing and marketing sugar and its allied products. As our readers will recall, the company, in October, 2007, planning to increase its alcohol production capacity. The company was planning to increase its alcohol plant capacity by 1 lakh litre per day, doubling its existing capacity from 1 lakh litre per day to 2 lakh per day. The company was planning to expand its ethanol plant capacity in order to increased ethanol demand from various petroleum companies. (Click on our Reports section to download the changes in the memorandum of understanding of the company)

An environment and social risk management report for GGCL

Sept 1: The website carries here, for future references, an environment and social risk management report for GSPC Gas Company Limited's (GGCL) various City Gas Distribution (CGD) projects. GGCL has identified 25 locations in the state of Gujarat spread over Saurashtra, north, south and central Gujarat regions to develop local gas distribution networks. As per the company, it will target residential, commercial, small industrial (Piped Natural Gas consumers) and transport (Compressed Natural Gas) sectors. The report carries relevant sections such as project description and description of key environmental and social issues and mitigation consisting of social and environment assessment and management system, labour and working conditions, pollution prevention and abatement, community health, safety and security, land acquisition and involuntary resettlement and community engagement. (Click on our Reports section to download the complete report)

SIL reports fire at its Kalol unit

August 31: Sintex Industries Limited (SIL) has announced that a fire broke out in the plastic division of the company's Kalol unit on August 28, 2008. The company further stated that it has not yet figured out the exact cause of the fire. The extent of damage from the recent fire is also yet to be ascertained. However, the company specified that there is no major impact on the other production departments and working of the company. Our readers will recall the website reporting on the company acquiring the German firm Geiger Technik GmbH, through its wholly owned subsidiary Sintex Holdings BV, Netherlands in the month of August, 2008.   Details

NCPL to set up LAB sulphonic acid unit

August 28: Narmada Chemicals Private Limited (NCPL) will be setting up a Linear alkyl Benzene (LAB) sulphonic acid production unit at Cuddalore in Tamil Nadu. The new LAB sulphonation unit will be set up in an area of 3.9 acre and will cost the company a sum of Rs 4.65 crore. The manufacturing unit, once complete, will be able to churn out 100 TPD LAB sulphonic acid and 30 TPD sulphuric acid. The raw materials expected to be used in the unit are around 72 TPD of LAB and 10.2 TPD of sulphur. The company has already applied for and received the first stage environmental clearance required for the proposed project. The company received the first stage environmental clearance after the proposal was considered in the 82nd meeting of the reconstituted Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) held during June 10-12, 2008. (Click on Details for further information)   Details

DMCL to expand its chemical plant in Gujarat

August 28: Dharamji Morarji Chemical Limited (DMCL) is looking to expand its chemical plant located in the Amreli district of Gujarat. The expansion project is primarily for the addition of 720 MT per month capacity for the production of benzene sulphonyl chloride. The project, that will take the unit's total production capacity from 14,250 MT per month to 14,970 MT per month, is expected to cost the company a sum of Rs 4 crore. Furthermore, the unit will use 450 MT per month benzene and 2,000 MT per month chloro sulphonic acid for the production of benzene sulphonyl acid. The company already produces 5,000 MT per month single super phosphate, 5,700 MT per month sulphuric acid, 1,550 MT per month chloro sulphonic acid, 1,200 MT per month oleum (23-25%) and 800 MT per month oleum (65%) at its Gujarat unit. The company has already applied for and received the environmental clearance required for the proposed project. (Click on Details for further information)   Details

IRSL restarts polyester plant

August 27: Indo Rama Synthetic Limited (IRSL) has announced that its polyester plant has been restarted in a phased manner after a period of temporary shut down. The company's polyester plant restarted operations on August 25, 2008 and the company expects all production lines to be online soon. The company had to shut down the polyester plant in order to avoid inventory losses resulting from high input cost of raw materials such as Purified Terephthalic Acid (PTA) and Mono Ethylene Glycol (MEG). Furthermore, the company was also not able to pass on the increase in cost to their customers.   Details

Insilco to offload Patalganga manufacturing facility

August 27: Insilco Limited is looking to offload its Patalganga facility, after undertaking a comprehensive review of its entire business. The company has decided to offload its Patalganga plant as they found the plant economically unviable, following the comprehensive review of its businesses. During the course of the meeting, the company's Board gave an in principle approval to the proposal to offload the Patalganga plant. The company is now in the process of a postal ballot for attaining the approval of its shareholders for the proposal. Furthermore, the company's Patalganga facility has been shut down from June 25, 2008. The company's Patalganga manufacturing facility produces various grades of precipitated silica.   Details

A background note on biofuels by CII

August 26: The website carries here, for reference purposes, a background note prepared by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) on the eve of an international summit organised by it, titled 'Biofuels India 2008: Emerging frontiers of Technology, Investment and Market prospects'. The international summit was held during August 22-23, 2008. In the background note, the CII has listed various challenges in the development of biofuels India. The following are the listed challenges.
8Inadequate understanding and knowledge of proven commercially viable and sustainable business models.
8Lack of comprehensive and conducive nation policy for catalyzing growth of the sector.
8Sustainable availability of feedstock.
8Knowledge gaps on availability of appropriate, affordable and commercially viable domestic and international technologies.
8Lack of appropriate financial models given the unclear perception of the risk profile in the sector. (Click on Details for further information)   Details

Cosmo to focus on global marketing and cost controls

August 26: Cosmo Films Limited has stated that it will focus on global marketing and cost controls in the future. The company's new strategy has been formed on the back of its belief that the Biaxially Oriented Polypropylene (BOPP) industry is heading towards maturity and a stronger base owing to capacity additions planned in the next 12 months. According to the company, its focus on new products and markets will allow it to sustain its growth momentum in the future. Furthermore, the company has also stated that its new line at Vadodara is expected to be commissioned on schedule, before March, 2008.   Details

CARE assigns BBB+ and PR2 bank loan ratings to NTIL

August 26: Credit Analysis and Research Limited (CARE) has assigned bank loan ratings of BBB+ and PR2 to Nakoda Textiles Industries Limited`s (NTIL) bank facilities for long term and short term, respectively. NTIL`s short term and long term bank facilities are cumulatively worth Rs 651.8 crore. As per the rating agency, the ratings derive strength from the company’s experienced management, locational advantage in terms of proximity to both raw material supply sources and target market and low gearing levels. However, on the other hand, the ratings are constrained by project risks associated with the timely completion of expansion projects, low operating profits, limited pricing power due to low market share and expected increase in debt levels to fund the expansions. In addition, the ongoing dispute between the company and the Gujarat Industrial Investment Corporation Limited also acts as a negative trigger to the rating. (Click on our Reports section to download the rating document)   Details