Current Affairs

India's largest integrated phenol–acetone plant opens at Haldia

15-10-2026 · English

India's largest integrated phenol–acetone plant opens at Haldia

Topics: Industry · 15 October 2026 Current Affairs (UPSC / TNPSC / SSC / RRB)

News

West Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari on 14 Oct 2026 inaugurated India's largest integrated phenol plant, built for ₹6,000 crore by Haldia Petrochemicals Ltd (HPL) through a subsidiary at Haldia, Purba Medinipur district. It can make 3.45 lakh tonnes of phenol and 2.15 lakh tonnes of acetone a year and includes India's first on-purpose propylene unit (olefin conversion technology). It uses propylene (from the new on-purpose propylene unit) and benzene, drawing on HPL's cracker streams, and will cut imports.

Key facts

PlantIndia's largest integrated phenol–acetone plant; includes India's first on-purpose propylene unit
CompanyHaldia Petrochemicals Ltd (HPL) – via a subsidiary; technology by Lummus (TCG group)
Capacity / costPhenol 3.45 lakh t, acetone 2.15 lakh t a year; ₹6,000 crore
Inauguration14 Oct 2026 – West Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari
FeedstockPropylene (from a new on-purpose propylene unit) and benzene, using HPL's cracker streams

Background

  • Chemistry: the 'cumene process' (Hock process) – benzene + propylene → cumene; oxidising cumene → phenol + acetone. Phenol (carbolic acid, C₆H₅OH) goes into bisphenol-A, polycarbonate and epoxy resins; acetone is a solvent used in paints and pharmaceuticals.
  • Joseph Lister used phenol (carbolic acid) as a surgical antiseptic in 1867. Other Indian phenol plants: Dahej (Gujarat, Deepak Phenolics) and Kochi (HOCL).
  • The Haldia Dock Complex is part of Kolkata's Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, at the Haldi–Hooghly confluence. Suvendu Adhikari has been West Bengal's first BJP Chief Minister since May 2026.

Tamil Nadu link: Chennai's Manali has the Chennai Petroleum Corporation (CPCL) refinery and petrochemical industries; CPCL is building a new refinery in the Cauvery basin near Nagapattinam.

Source: Maritime Gateway, Whalesbook, 14 Oct 2026; Hydrocarbon Engineering (Aug 2026); Republic (Suvendu Adhikari)

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