RIL ropes in US tech co for coke gasification

With an eye on enhancing its gross refining margins and rapidly expanding its petrochemical business, Reliance Industries (RIL) has roped in US-based Phillips 66 for accessing technology for its coke gasification project.

RIL has embarked on a massive petrochemical expansion plan. Over the next few years, it will set up a petcoke gasification facility at a cost of $4 billion.

“The planned gasification plants at Jamnagar will be among the largest in the world and will process petroleum coke and coal into synthesis gas, utilising the E-Gas Technology. The synthesis gas will be used as feedstock for a new chemical complex and will fuel the refinery’s existing gas turbine power generation units,” said a company statement.

Phillips 66 will license its E-Gas™ Technology to Reliance and provide process engineering design and technical support relating to the gasification technology process area, RIL said.
This project is expected to cut costs for RIL substantially and improve its financials as the petrochemical and refining business currently contributes almost 80% of its total revenues.

Tuesday’s news comes close on the heels of RIL’s announcement a few weeks back that it will rope in US-based Fluor Corporation for assistance in project management services at the Jamnagar facility.

The coke gasification project, once ready, is expected to be on-stream in the next four years and help the company in increasing its gross refining margins by $3-4 per barrel, said experts.