IndianOil to Begin Marketing of Refinery Catalysts

NEW DELHI: State-run refiner Indian Oil Corp ( IOC) will begin commercialisation of its in-house technologies in a bid to improve shrinking refinery margins.

The company will begin large scale marketing of refinery catalysts formulated and developed by its research division, in the country as well as internationally, IndianOil acting chairman RK Malhotra said.

Catalysts are largely imported by Indian refiners, he said. Going forward, the company will set up refinery catalyst manufacturing unit in the country.

The state-run refiner will call global bids in a month seeking a joint venture partner for manufacturing and marketing of 15,000 tonnes per annum of fluidised catalytic cracking (FCC) catalysts and additives in India.

The firm will call expression of interest to offer 49 per cent share in its joint venture Indo Cat Pvt Ltd that was floated in June 2006 with the US-based Intercat, acquired by UK’s Johnson Matthey.

IndianOil will hold a majority share in the joint venture that will set a manufacturing plant at Dahej, Gujarat at a cost of.`110 crore.

Malhotra said IndianOil’s pipeline inspection technology, developed along with Bhabha Atomic Research Centre ( BARC ) is also ready for commercialisation. The company proposes to expand its market in lubricants.