Numaligarh Refinery Ltd. is preparing to open what will become the largest wax plant in India. The facility, being constructed in the northeastern city of Guwahati, is designed with capacity to make 50,000 metric ton per year and is due to open by October.
An NRL representative confirmed Friday that the plant is on schedule to begin operating during the third quarter of this year. NRL has said the project will help supply a domestic market that currently relies heavily on imports. India consumes approximately 127,000 t/y of wax, and it imports around 75,000 t/y.
Indian Oil Corp. currently operates the nations largest wax plant – a facility with capacity of 32,000 t/y at IOCs Digobi refinery, also located in northeastern India.
NRLs plant will use feedstock from the companys refinery at the same location. The capacity of the wax plant will include 43,000 t/y of paraffin wax and 4,500 t/y of microcrystalline wax.
NRL has said the project is part of a broader plan to expand its refinery and improve its profitability. In April the company announced that the plant will be a demonstration project for refining technology developed in cooperation a joint venture with Engineers India Ltd. and the Indian Institute of Petroleum.