RIL mulls R&D tie-ups with global tech giants

21 September 2007 16:52  [Source: ICIS news]

NEW DELHI (ICIS news)--India’s Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) is exploring prospects of long-term research and development (R&D) collaborations with global technology powerhouses such as UOP, Chevron and ConocoPhillips.

 

A company source said on Friday that such tie-ups were being considered for taking up projects at Refining & Marketing Research & Technology Centre (RMRTC) at its refining-cum-petrochemical complex at Jamnagar in Gujarat.

 

RMRTC, which was set up during 2006-07, is RIL’s third R&D facility. The company already operates Polymer Research & Technology Centre at Mumbai and Reliance Technology Centre at Patalganga near Mumbai.

 

RMRTC is currently implementing a R&D project in collaboration with Germany’s BASF for developing a new catalyst and additive formulations for improving propylene yield from fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) process.

 

It is slated to start operating a pilot plant for enhancing propylene recovery from fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) process by May 2008.

 

The basic objective of this initiative is to enhance propylene production at two FCC units of RIL’s export-oriented refinery-cum-petrochemical complex.

 

RIL is evaluating the possibility of producing anode coke from low-value FCC bottom in collaboration with ConocoPhilips.

 

RIL had last year signed a memorandum of understanding (MOUs) with Chevron for setting up a technology development centre in India.

 

This proposal coincided with a separate MoU (memorandum of understanding) under which Chevron picked 5% stake in RIL subsidiary Reliance Petroleum Limited (RPL), which is slated to complete refinery-cum-polypropylene complex at Jamnagar in December 2008.

 

RMRTC would have facilities for R&D in the area of hydroprocessing, aromatics, catalyst development, bio-refining, coker, simulation and analytical science. These facilities would be developed in phases over the next four to five years.

 

RIL’s other two technology development centres already have operating collaborations with Canada’s Nova Chemicals and Standford University of the United States.

 

The company also has R&D projects operating in tie-up with leading Indian R&D institutes and universities.

By: Naresh Minocha
+65 6780 4359

For the latest chemical news, data and analysis that directly impacts your business sign up for a free trial to ICIS news - the breaking online news service for the global chemical industry.

Get the facts and analysis behind the headlines from our market leading weekly magazine: sign up to a free trial to ICIS Chemical Business.

Printer Friendly