KOCHI: The Board of Directors of Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) has given the green signal to Kochi Refineries Limited (KRL) to go ahead with phase II of capacity expansion, envisaging an investment to the tune of Rs.2,000 crores. The investment clearance came last week, it is learnt.

The project is meant to upgrade auto fuels MS and HSD from the present BS II specification to Euro III specification and to increase refining capacity from the current level of 7.5 million tonnes a year to 9.5 million tonnes.

Consent to establish the project facilities has been obtained from the Kerala State Pollution Control Board and environment clearance had been obtained from the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests.

The Boards of KRL and BPCL had earlier cleared the technical configuration in the Detailed Project Report and allotted Rs.10 crores for pre-project activities. The project is expected to be completed by September 2009. Meanwhile, orders have been released for single point buoy for the single point mooring (SPM) facility being set up by KRL. The project has achieved 38 per cent physical progress and is meant for berthing very large crude carriers and includes shore tank farm and associated pipelines. Currently, piling work for tank foundations is in progress.

Along with the work on the SPM, community development schemes have been activated. As part of KRL's commitment to developing the communities around the project site, it has undertaken schemes that include development of road, drainage, fish landing centre as well as healthcare centre. Deployment of an ambulance in Puthuvype, assistance for education and augmentation of water supply in the area are also part of the welfare schemes being undertaken.

Propylene recovery unit

KRL has begun work on a project to set up a propylene recovery unit. The detailed feasibility report is ready and investment approval has been accorded by the Board of KRL.

Learning Centre

During 2006-07, the KRL Learning Centre proposes to impart training in various technical and functional areas to 200 external participants in the areas of core competencies of the company for the benefit of several organisations as well as individual job seekers in the State. Last year, the centre had trained 175 external participants.

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