Page 130 - CW E-Magazine (1-10-2024)

Acetonitrile
Top Stories

PROJECT UPDATE

Himadri to commission Odisha LFP plant by FY27; N,N,N,N-Tetramethyl Ethylene Diamine

plans carbon black capacity expansion at Bengal site

Kolkata-based Himadri Speciality the second half of FY27. Total capital The company is planning to ex- (TMEDA)
Chemical (HSC) has announced expenditure for this plant will be pand its total carbon black production
plans to commission its Rs. 1,130-crore Rs. 1,130-crore. capacity to around 250-ktpa by the end
greenfield plant in Odisha for produc- of the next fiscal year with a brown-
ing lithium iron phosphate (LFP) during HSC also revealed plans to estab- field expansion of a new speciality
the second half of FY27. lish two additional greenfield plants carbon black line at its West Bengal DIETHYL HYDROXYLAMINE 85% & 98%
dedicated to LFP production, further factory. Currently, total carbon black
Lithium iron phosphate, also known expanding its capabilities in the sector. production capacity stands at around DEHA 85% & 98%
as lithium ferrophosphate (LFP), is a 180-ktpa.
key material for making lithium ion In December 2023, HSC announced
(Li-ion) batteries used in electric vehicles an investment of Rs. 4,800-crore over Mr. Choudhary said the company
(EVs). In Li-ion batteries, the cathode the next 5-6 years to produce around is aiming to control 18% market share
plays a vital role in determining the bat- 200-ktpa of LFP. in the carbon black by FY26-end after MONO, DI, TRI
tery’s performance and characteristics. the de-bottlenecking of capacity at the
One commonly used cathode material Debottlenecking carbon black Bengal unit. DIETHYL TOLUAMIDE
is LFP. facility
In another development, HSC, The company is investing around DEET
Mr. Anurag Choudhary, Chair- which is also India’s largest speciality Rs. 220-crore for the brownfield ex-
man & Managing Director, HSC, said carbon black maker, is aiming to in- pansion, more than doubling its capa-
construction of the plant will begin in crease its market share to around 18% city to 130-ktpa. “With this expansion,
January next year. It will have an ini- in the country’s carbon black industry Himadri will become the fourth largest
tial production capacity of 40-ktpa, by the end of FY26 from the current producer of speciality carbon black in
and is expected to be commissioned in 13% in terms of volume. the world,” Mr. Choudhary said.

TRADE ISSUE
Industry raises concern over dumping of ammonium

nitrate
The sharp increase in import of Early this year, Coal India Ltd. domestic capacity utilisation to 72%
ammonium nitrate (AN) from Russia (CIL) signed a joint venture with from 91%.
has hit domestic companies which BHEL to set up a 2,000-tpd (tonnes
are in the process of ramping up AN per day) AN plant with an investment The import is from countries that
capacity with investment of over of Rs. 11,782-crore in Odisha. The have access to low-cost natural gas, a
Rs. 4,000-crore. plant will utilise BHEL’s indigenously key raw material for producing AN, he
developed pressurised fluidised bed said, calling for the need to curtail
The mining industry has also gasification technology and use coal imports so that domestic capacity is
raised concern on dependence on as feedstock. fully utilised.
imports for sourcing AN, used as an
explosive during mining ores such as According to Mr. Shailendra Singh, The government recently increased
coal, iron ore and limestone. India Director General, Indian Ammonium the customs duty on import of AN to STAR EXPORT HOUSE
has an installed capacity of 10.96-ltpa Nitrate Manufacturers Association, 10% cent from 7.5%, but the impact of GOVERNMENT RECOGNISED
(lakh tonnes per annum) for AN, and import of ammonium nitrate has gone this hike is expected to be just between
an additional 10.19-ltpa of capacity up to 2.39-lt in FY23, from 0.91-lt in $8-9 per tonne, which is unlikely to
is being set up. FY22 and this has resulted in drop in reduce imports.

130 Chemical Weekly October 1, 2024

Contents Index to Advertisers Index to Products Advertised