Deepak Fertilisers is nation's first Iso-propyl alcohol producer

(Article first published in Times of India, 1st September 2006)

Deepak Fertilisers And Petrochemicals Corporation Limited (DFPCL) commissioned its Iso-propyl alcohol (IPA) plant at Taloja near Mumbai on Monday. The company which is currently the only manufacturer of IPA in the country has invested Rs. 154 crore in the plant.

IPA is a petrochemical which is used as an additive or solvent in various sectors/products such as pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, agro-chemicals, paints, speciality chemicals, rubber chemicals, inks, metal treatment, anti-freezing fuel additives, disinfectants and lubes, among others.

"What is unique about our IPA project is that it will enter a ready 100 per cent import substitute market. It will utilize our existing marketing and distribution channel for methanol" said S.C. Mehta, vice chairman and managing director of DFPCL.

The Taloja plant's capacity is 70,000 tonnes per annum (tpa). At present, the domestic market size for the product is 65,000 tpa, growing at the rate of six to seven per cent per annum.

DFPCL is planning to begin exports in the current financial year. At full capacity, IPA could potentially contribute about Rs. 300 crore to the company's annual sales turnover. The technology will also enable the company to supply propane, the gas which is used as a fuel for various industrial applications. The gas is produced as a byproduct when IPA is manufactured.

The company will soon start supplying propane to its customers in western India, who currently buy the product from North and Central India.

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