BPCL to Invest ₹5,500 Crore in New Polypropylene Unit in Kochi.

Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL) is setting up a new ₹5,500-crore polypropylene unit in Kochi, marking its second petrochemical project in the city. The plant is expected to be commissioned by October 2027, according to Sanjay Khanna, Director (Refineries), BPCL.

“The job is in progress. This will be the second petrochemical unit in Kochi, and we plan to have it operational by 2027,” Khanna said on the sidelines of the Invest Kerala Global Summit.

The unit will have an annual production capacity of 400,000 tonnes of polypropylene, a key raw material used in packaging, homeware, personal care products, and industrial applications. While similar projects globally operate at 65% capacity, BPCL aims for an 80-90% operational efficiency.

Compressed Biogas Plant and POL Terminal

BPCL is also set to commission a Compressed Biogas Plant (CBP) in Kochi by next quarter. The plant will process 150 tonnes of municipal waste per day, producing six tonnes of compressed biogas, with 40-50 tonnes of solid waste converted into fertilizer.

Regarding potential expansion of CBP to other locations, Khanna said BPCL will assess its success in Kochi before making further decisions. "The Kerala government was quite supportive in providing land and segregated waste. Once the first plant is established, we will explore future expansion," he added.

Additionally, BPCL has signed an MoU with Kinfra to develop a POL terminal with a pipeline receipt facility and additional parking for LPG tankers at Kinfra Industrial & Textile Park in Palakkad. The ₹880-crore project is set to begin in April 2024 and is expected to be completed by September 2028.

The investments highlight BPCL’s growing focus on petrochemicals, sustainable energy, and infrastructure development in Kerala.

HBL