Chemical News - December 2014

OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE INDIAN CHEMICAL COUNCIL

CHEMICAL NEWS VOL. XI z DECEMBER 2014 z NO. 6

PAGES 86

ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION RS.1,500/- z PRICE PER COPY RS.150/-

CHEMISTRY IN EVERYTHING

2 z CHEMICAL NEWS DECEMBER 2014

HON. EDITOR DR. PRAKASH TRIVEDI ADVISORY BOARD: MR. YOGESH KOTHARI MR. RAKESH BHARTIA DR. S. SIVARAM MR. RAJEEV PANDIA MR. SAPAN RAY EDITORIAL BOARD: MR. D. P. MISRA MR. RAVI RAGHAVAN PROF. A. B. PANDIT MS. MALINI HARIHARAN MR. H. S. KARANGLE EDITORIAL, SUBSCRIPTION & ADVERTISING OFFICE: C/O INDIAN CHEMICAL COUNCIL SIR VITHALDAS CHAMBERS 16 MUMBAI SAMACHAR MARG MUMBAI – 400 001 TEL: 022- 22047649/8043 FAX: 022-22048057 E-MAIL : cin@iccmail.in NORTHERN REGIONAL OFFICE: IDA HOUSE, 1ST FLOOR, SEC - IV R. K. PURAM, NEW DELHI - 110 022 TEL: 011-26176689/26192910 EMAIL: iccnro@iccmail.in EASTERN REGIONAL OFFICE: SHANTINIKETAN, 8 CAMAC STREET KOLKATA - 700 017 TEL: 033-22829395 EMAIL: iccero@iccmail.in SOUTHERN REGIONAL OFFICE: KURIAN COMPLEX, III FLOOR 140-A NELSON MANICKAM ROAD CHENNAI - 600 029 TEL: 044-23746326 EMAIL: iccsro@iccmail.in GUJARAT CHAPTER: 30, NUTAN BHARAT SOCIETY 103, LA – CITADEL COMPLEX, ALKAPURI VADODARA - 390 007 GUJARAT TELEFAX: 0265-2342969 EMAIL: iccgujarat@iccmail.in ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION INLAND – RS. 1,500 FOREIGN – U.S.$ 200 (AIR MAIL) SINGLE COPY – RS. 150

W H AT ’ S I N S I D E 5 EDITORIAL 6 FROM THE DIRECTOR GENERAL 10 GUEST EDITORIAL – MAKING CHEMICALS FOR THE WORLD IN INDIA: WHAT WILL IT TAKE: Ravi Raghavan 12 PRESENTATION OF ICC AWARD DR. O. P. GARG 14 ICC ACTIVITIES 26 DR. STAN HIGGINS’ COLUMN: KNOWLEDGE CAPTURE IS A PROCESS 28 CAN INDIA BRIDGE THE GAP IN GLOBAL MANPOWER SHORTAGE? - Vipul Shah 30 MUSINGS OF A CHEMICAL ENGINEER - Rajan Shah 32 CRYOPRESERVATION: A POTENTIAL TECHNIQUE FOR REVIVAL OF LIFE - Abhishek Dubey, Rikhil Iyer & Prof. Usha Nambiar 38 SPURRING INDIA’S INDUSTRIAL POWER TO NEW HEIGHTS - Amitabh Kant 41 ADDRESSING WORK EXECUTION THROUGH INTERGRATED TECHNOLOGY PROVIDES NEW LEADING INDICATORS TO IMPROVE OPERATIONAL RISK MANAGEMENT - Michael Neill & Scott Lehmann 52 PROJECTS INVESTMENTS IN CHEMICAL SECTOR 54 ECONOMIC REVIEW 60 NEWS FROM MEMBERS 68 NEWS NATIONAL 74 NEWS INTERNATIONAL 84 QUOTABLE & LAUGHABLE

ICC’s Goal is to have Member-Companies joining the Responsible Care Programme.

The views expressed in the journal are not necessarily those of the Council.

VOL. XI DECEMBER 2014 NO. 6 CHEMICAL NEWS DECEMBER 2014 z 3

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EDITORIAL

DR. PRAKASH TRIVEDI Honorary Editor

W

SAY NO TO PLASTIC BAGS LITTERING

hen we go to any book store in India, it is hard to find a popular book on chemistry. One can get a book on quantum, nuclear, neurology, astrophysics, and all sorts of other scientific, esoteric subject but not pertaining to chemical sciences. The Double Helix by James Watson, published in 1970s is probably the last best seller in chemistry!

When we look at real large toms of Penrose, Hawkins, Green or Kaku, on cosmology cum mathematics, we get jealous that there are no comparable writers for chemistry.

Even, our sister science, biology, is populated with such extraordinary writers as E. O. Wilson, Thomas Lewis, Richard Dawkins, whose books and essays not only educate and enlighten but also engage us. Many of them are lucid, entertaining, provocative writers with immense range.

No such luck with chemistry?

Chemistry, which covers such diversified fields as pharmaceuticals, polymers, fibres, pigments and dyes, petrochemicals, and nearly all aspects of modern living. How is is too daunting a subject for writing a popular book? Even popular scientific journals don’t seem to have stomach for it. Only specialist journals cover these and that also mostly for specialists. Daily news

papers or magazines like ‘The Economist’ or a number of Indian magazines have nothing much to do with it, unless they want to condemn some unfortunate aspect of it, mainly pollution or an accident.

This has led to very unfortunate problem of lack of image for chemical sciences at a time when perception generated by various media is all powerful. We find hardly any major spokesman for chemistry as such. There are brilliant communicator for science, research, intellectual property rights, etc. like R. A. Mashelkar and books covering various chemical industries like DuPont, Clariant, Dow that come to mind, there are two coffee table volumes by Reliance on Polypropylene and more recently PVC. But one does not find them, like profusely illustrated books on wild life or environment in Kitab Khana, Crossword or Granth!

This is unnerving since 1984 onwards, when Bhopal tragedy happened, image of chemicals overall has constantly eroded. But what is most disheartening is that Chemical Professionals have not taken to their heart to work together to improve this image. Imagine a world without new developments in chemistry and allied sciences! We will get stuck in a time capsule.

Increasingly, we talk about Sustainable Developments but

without stressing enough the advancement arrived at it in daily products. Take for example, the humble plastic grocery bag or plastic packaging, much abused for entirely wrong reasons with no fault of its own! Consider so many countless product and process improvements that have taken place to produce this humble bag or packaging. Besides significant improvements in production processes for resins, material structures, film processing technology, optimisation of various steps including converting resin into film, slitting, printing on it, cutting into required length, packaging these in a bundle, etc. it is shame that after using so many high tech processes, we simply throw it away, not in a dustbin but on the road.

Plastics film teach us some great leaps in sustainability: Use of inexpensive material, low use of water and energy for making it, continued reduction in material for making same product, reusability, ready recyclability, and finally possibility of reconfigure it into some other more enduring products. If now we can only learn to properly collect it and send it for recycling instead of allowing it to litter our gardens, beaches, roads, pavements, sewage system, we will not come up with most unprofitable and harmful slogan like ‘Say no to Plastics’. z CHEMICAL NEWS DECEMBER 2014 z 5

FROM THE DIRECTOR GENERAL

H. S. Karangle Director General - ICC

I

nstitute of Chemical Technology (ICT) has received the Award for the “Nation’s Best Institution for Chemical Engineering” at the hands of Hon’ble Minister of Human Resource Development, Mrs. Smriti Irani. We congratulate Prof. G. D. Yadav, Vice Chancellor, ICT and his team for his wonderful achievement and proud to be associate with them in the larger interest of Indian chemical industry.

Mr. Indrajit Pal, Secretary – C & PC, Department of Chemicals & Petrochemicals, Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers, Government of India has retired with effect from 30 September 2014. He was taking keen interest in various activities of ICC and we thank him for the support he has extended to ICC during his tenure.

Mr. Surjit Kumar Chaudhary is taken over as Secretary (C&PC), Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers, Government of India. Within short period he has interacted with ICC and chemical industry on various forums. He has also visited industrial estates at Vapi, Ankleshwar, etc and impressed by the various measures taken by chemical industry on safety, health & environment front.

He expressed his desire to know more about ICC and ICC’s perception of Indian chemical industry and various issues concerning growth of Indian chemical industry. Accordingly he has given time to ICC on 19 November 2014 for presentation on ICC and various issues which Indian chemical industry is facing.

A high level delegation of ICC led

by Mr. Rakesh Bhartia, President, met the Secretary (C&PC) on 19 November 2014 in his office at New Delhi. ICC Presentation was prepared

by Dr. S. Hariharan, Chairman – Northern Region of ICC after taking inputs from ICC members. Secretary (C&PC) has given enough time for the Presentation.

Mr. Rakesh Bhartia, during his Presentation explained ICC’s working and briefed about the current status of the chemical industry; and environment & trade related issues for which Ministry’s support is required. ICC has been assured that authorities will take all necessary and logical steps which will ensure growth of the industry.

Secretary (C&PC) has promised to address all other issues put up during the meeting and the Presentation, in consultation with Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change. He informed that National Chemical Policy will be finalized shortly. He has shown keen interest in Responsible Care and Nicer Globe Project. He was very pleased with ICC for propagating Responsible Care aggressively and desired ICC

Government must take on central role of creating an investment climate across India that supports enterprise and the role of private sector and provides a clear and predictable economic policy framework for business to succeed.

6 z CHEMICAL NEWS DECEMBER 2014

Development in emerging markets cannot succeed without business.

Conversely, business cannot succeed without active and engaged civil society, committed to holistic solutions and most importantly relentlessly pursuing active partnerships with business. to spread Responsible Care to all its members. He was very happy to know about the NicerGlobe Project and expressed his desire to visit NicerGlobe Control Room in future.

ICC delegation also met Shri Ananth Kumar, Hon’ble Minister for Chemicals & Fertilizers, Government of India in his office during which Hon’ble Minister of State (C&F), Shri Hansraj Gangaram Ahir was also present. Shri Ananth Kumar told that while he would like to resolve issues faced by the chemical industry on environment front, any suggestion diluting environmental standards cannot be accepted. At the same time issues like requirement of Public Hearing in the existing industrial estate for the expansion / modification, deep sea discharge standards, etc. will be studied and suitably resolved. In the context of duty inversions faced due to various FTAs, etc., Hon’ble Minister asked ICC to prepare list of all such items wherein chemical industry is badly affected. Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers will then take up these issues with the Ministry of Commerce & Industry for suitable remedy.

All the delegates were very happy with the positive reactions from the Ministry and also encouraged by Ministry’s eagerness to be partner

for growth of the Indian chemical industry.

Following are other significant initiatives undertaken by the Council in the last month: PRE-BUDGET MEMORANDUM FOR THE YEAR 2015-16 Based on the feedback received from the member-companies ICC submitted Pre-Budget Memorandum for the year 201516 to the Government. Various recommendations have been made which are categorized as follows: z Custom Duty z Excise Duty z Service Tax z CENVAT Credit z Procedural Modifications ICC delegation will be meeting Tax Research Unit on 2 December 2014 for presenting Pre-Budget recommendations of ICC. MEETING WITH DEPARTMENTS OF INDIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY Mr. Devang V. Khakhar, Director, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, was the Chief Guest for the Seminar on “Recognizing Excellence of Performance in Various Facets of Chemical Industry” held on 30 September 2014 coinciding with ICC Awards Presentation Function.

During the Seminar Mr. Devang Khakhar expressed a view that there is need to have collaborative arrangements with the industry and IITB in order to understand current activities carried out at IITB in the Chemistry and other related departments. ICC delegation consisting of Mr. Yogesh M. Kothari, Mr. R. M. Pandia, Mr. S. R. Lohokare and others met Mr. Devang Khakhar and his team on 1 November 2014.

(Report about the same is published in this issue).

To make the progress on this important subject, it has been decided to set up Task Force consisting of representatives of ICC and IITB and Task Force will be formed shortly.

HALF-DAY SEMINAR ON “CHEMICAL BURNS MANAGEMENT – STOPPING INCIDENTS FROM BECOMING ACCIDENTS” AT TARAPUR ICC in cooperation with HSE Solutions Pvt. Ltd. (a membercompany of ICC) organized Half-day Seminar on “CHEMICAL BURNS MANAGEMENT – STOPPING INCIDENTS FROM BECOMING ACCIDENTS” on 5 November 2014 at Auditorium of TARAPUR INDUSTRIAL MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION (TIMA), Tarapur. Seminar was attended by more than 80 delegates.

Mr. D. K. Raut, President, TARAPUR INDUSTRIAL MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION presided over the function. Dr. Parag Kulkarni, MD (Advisor to Lupin) and Dr. Vikas Patil, CMO, Aarti Industries Ltd also attended the seminar. Mr. Grégoire Berri, Prevor, France made detail presentations on Chemical Burns, Accidents, Consequences, First Aid Solutions & PH Experiment.

REFRESHER COURSE ON ROAD SAFETY & SAFE TRANSPORTATION OF HAZARDOUS GOODS One-day Refresher Course on “Road Safety & Safe Transportation of Hazardous Goods” was organized on 7 November 2014 at the Campus Conference Hall of MCC PTA India Corporation Pvt. Ltd. The Programme was organized by “Multi Modes Transport Pvt. Ltd.” for their drivers & operators in co-ordination with MCC PTA INDIA CORPN PVT LTD. The topics in the module, viz, Defensive driving skills, Advanced Driving Skills & Training, Product Information, Product Safety & Emergency Procedures have been discussed in detail. Some films on “Defensive Driving” & “Causes of Accidents” were also shown to the audience which were found to be extremely informative to the drivers. At the end of the Program, Certificate of Participation was presented to each driver who attended the program.

The program was attended by 65 participants.

SAP CHEMICAL FORUM Director General and Secretary General of ICC attended SAP Chemical Forum organized by SAP in association with ICC held on 12 November 2014 at Hotel Sahara Star, Mumbai. Mr. S. R. Lohokare, Chairman – Technology & Energy Expert Committee of ICC delivered Key-Note Address. Mr. Yosuke Nakamura, Dy. General Manager for Chemical Safety Department from SUMITOMO CHEMICAL CO LTD also attended the forum.

DRIVERS TRAINING PROGRAMME ON SAFE TRANSPORTATION OF HAZARDOUS CHEMICALS ICC - Southern Region organized Drivers Training Programme on “Safe Transportation of Hazardous Chemicals” on 14 November 2014 at Chennai. Dr. M. Surianarayanan, Principal Scientist, Cell for Industrial Safety and Risk Analysis, CLRI Chennai inaugurated the program.

In his inaugural address, he insisted the need for such refresher training course for understanding the hazardous nature of the chemicals being transported and the recent amendments in rules and regulations of Road Transportation. Mr. S.Srinivasan, Director-Operations, Pure Chemicals Co. Delivered Key-Note Address.

Mr. V. S. Balasubramanian of M/s Ashok Leyland Drivers Training Institute, Namakkal was the faculty.

The program was attended by 40 participants.

TWO-DAY REFRESHER COURSE ON “SEPARATION PROCESSES” ICC organized Two-day Refresher Course on “SEPARATION PROCESSES” on 21 – 22 November 2014 at GRAND HOTEL, Mumbai.

Dr. M. O. Garg delivered Key-Note Address.

ICC has conferred “I.C.C. D. M. TRIVEDI LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD FOR CONTRIBUTION TO INDIAN CHEMICAL INDUSTRY (Education & Research)” on Dr. M. O. CHEMICAL NEWS DECEMBER 2014 z 7

Garg. Due to his overseas travel he could not be present during the ICC Awards Presentation Function held on 30 September 2014 at Mumbai.

The Award was presented to Dr. Garg

by Mr. S. R. Lohokare, Chairman – Technology & Energy Expert Committee of ICC during the program.

CONFERENCE ON ‘INDIAN CHEMICAL INDUSTRY: DOING CHEMISTRY WITH A PURPOSE’ (INNOVATIVE, GREEN & SAFE SOLUTIONS FOR LIFE) Conference organized by Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) on ‘Indian Chemical Industry: Doing Chemistry with a Purpose’ Innovative, Green & Safe Solutions for life) held on 26 November 2014 at Mumbai. ICC was “Partner Association” of the Conference.

AWARENESS PROGRAM ON “CHEMICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION” ICC along with Department of Chemicals & Petrochemicals, Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers, Government of India and National Authority organized half-day Awareness Programs on “Chemical Weapons Convention” on 31 October 2014 at Visakhapatnam, on 6 November 2014 at Ankleshwar, on 14 November 2014 at Vapi and on 26 November 2014 at Vatva. The program was well attended and response was good.

RESPONSIBLE CARE MENTORSHIP INITIATIVE OF ICC Some of the member-companies who have signed Responsible Care Undertaking have suggested to ICC Secretariat that they require assistance / guidance for implementing Responsible Care in their companies and to bring them to the level of approaching for Responsible Care Logo audit. We are happy to inform that BASF India Limited, Clariant Chemicals (India) Limited, Dow Chemical International Pvt Ltd, EI Dupont India Pvt Ltd, Heubach Colour Pvt Ltd, Rallis India Ltd and few others have volunteered 8 z CHEMICAL NEWS DECEMBER 2014

to mentor such companies who are desirous of implementing Responsible Care.

Accordingly, ICC Secretariat has issued circular requesting membercompanies to submit required information. ICC members who are willing to be Responsible Care logo holding company and needs assistance may give their details to ICC Secretariat.

RESPONSIBLE CARE As on date, 119 member-companies of ICC have signed Responsible Care Initiative. 28 member-companies have been granted permission to use RC Logo for a period of three years and 8 member-companies have been granted permission to use RC Logo on fast track basis for a period of one year.

SEMINAR ON “CHEMICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION AND CHEMICAL SAFETY AND SECURITY MANAGEMENT FOR MEMBER STATES OF THE SOUTH ASIA ASSOCIATION FOR REGIONAL COOPERATION (SAARC)” AT COLOMBO, SRI LANKA Seminar on “CHEMICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION AND CHEMICAL SAFETY AND SECURITY MANAGEMENT FOR MEMBER STATES OF THE SOUTH ASIA ASSOCIATION FOR REGIONAL COOPERATION (SAARC)” will be held on 17 - 19 December 2014 at Colombo, Sri Lanka. Mr. V. Nirmal Gandhi, Sr. Manager – Env. & System, THIRUMALAI CHEMICALS LTD will be attending the Seminar.

THE WORLD CHEMISTRY AWARDS 2015 The EventSpark is organizing The World Chemistry Awards 2015 to be held on Tuesday, 23 June 2015 at the Flora in Cologne, Germany. ICC is Supporting Partner of the event.

The Awards will provide the industry with the opportunity to showcase the very best in the business, to honour nominees and winners and to reflect and take pride in the valuable work

that has been achieved. The Awards will focus on the contribution of individuals, projects, organizations and technologies that have excelled in the past 12 months. Interested members may send nominations to EventSpark Limited at np@ eventspark.co.uk.

FORTHCOMING MEETINGS / CONFERENCES / SEMINARS: ICC will be organizing following Meetings / Conferences / Seminars: Awareness Program on CHEMICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION on 4 December 2014 at Coimbatore ICC agreed to support International Conference on “Hazmat & Liquid Bulk Cargo” organized by EXIM INDIA PVT LTD to be held on 4 December 2014 at Mumbai.

Awareness Program on CHEMICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION on 12 December 2014 at Secunderabad One-day Program on RESPONSIBLE CARE AND SECURITY CODE in January 2015 at Mumbai One-day Workshop on CHEMICAL SAFETY AND SECURITY RATING SYSTEM in January 2015 at Vishakhapatnam One-day Seminar on SENSITIZING CHEMICAL INDUSTRY REGARDING ROTTERDAM AND STOCKHOM in February 2015 at Ahmedabad One-day Workshop for creating Awareness on Health, Safety, Security & Environment issues with focus on PROCESS SAFETY in February 2015 at Vadodara / Ankleshwar One-day Workshop on Chemical Safety and Security Rating System with focus on BEHAVIOUR BASED SAFETY in February 2015 at Bangalore / Mangalore ICC’s 8th ANNUAL INDIA CHEMICAL INDUSTRY OUTLOOK CONFERENCE on 3 - 4 March 2015 at Hotel Taj Lands End, Mumbai z

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CHEMICAL NEWS DECEMBER 2014 z 9

GUEST EDITORIAL

MAKING CHEMICALS FOR THE WORLD IN INDIA: WHAT WILL IT TAKE?

RAVI RAGHAVAN, Editor – Chemical Weekly & Member, Editorial Board, CHEMICAL NEWS

T

he Prime Minister’s plea from the ramparts of the Red Fort on Independence Day to make India a manufacturing hub not just to serve local markets is a good opportunity to reflect on what it will take to make the country a powerhouse for chemical manufacturing.

A manufacturing renaissance is vital if India is to create the jobs its demographics demand and avoid social upheaval. Placing all bets on services has led to jobless growth – quite all right for smaller, mature economies, but decidedly not so for a large and developing one as ours.

If India is to be a manufacturing hub, the chemical industry – as a key enabler of all sorts of industries – has to play a key role.

GROWING MARKETS – A GIVEN

It is a given that demand for chemicals in India will rise with 10 z CHEMICAL NEWS DECEMBER 2014

economic growth. But this does not automatically translate into growth for the domestic industry. A large chunk of the demand growth for basic chemicals over the last decade has been met by imports, benefitting economies and companies in the region and beyond.

It is nobody’s case that India’s chemical companies must seek to manufacture all and sundry.

There will be chemicals that can be competitively made elsewhere and brought into India with efficient logistics to serve this market. But job creation – directly and more so indirectly – is one good reason why India must look to develop a more comprehensive chemical manufacturing portfolio than it now has. There are several chemicals for which Indian demand justifies one or several world-scale plants.

But investments – by local or international companies – have not been forthcoming for several reasons, many of which have to do with government policies and poor infrastructure.

LACK OF HYDROCARBONS NO EXCUSE

The argument that India cannot be a leading hub for chemicals given its poor hydrocarbon base is true to only some extent. Tiny Singapore, dependent on imports for every drop of crude oil it needs, is one of the most competitive hubs for

petrochemicals production in the world, and basic & value-added chemicals produced at its Jurong site are profitably exported to the booming economies of the region.

The key is world-scale manufacturing of the right products, using the latest technologies, and in an integrated manner so as to add significant value to hydrocarbon streams coming out of refineries. Coupled with efficient infrastructure and a tax base that does not escalate costs, the economics of production are compelling in Singapore.

India will continue to build refineries to meet its fuel needs, and, as shown by Reliance, of other countries as well. This affords an excellent opportunity to dovetail a well thought out petrochemical industry, downstream. This idea has fortunately caught on and every refiner with a sizeable crude oil processing capacity is now examining opportunities in petrochemicals. Their fuel obsession – imposed by planners – is ending and will afford precious feedstock that can be value-added in integrated and/or co-located operations. The PCPIRs that India’s planners have been talking about for close to a decade are planned along these lines but need to be made more participative with several stages of value-addition built in, to nurture a sizeable fine and speciality chemicals industry.

FINE CHEMICALS: TAKING ON CHINA

The rapid growth of sectors such as agrochemicals and pharmaceuticals presents an excellent growth opportunity now served mainly by imports from China. Competitive production of fine chemicals and intermediates through ‘green’ processes will present not just local opportunities, but also international ones. Most western buyers see a worrisome vulnerability in their supply chains due their overwhelming exposure to China, and are keen to diversify their options. At the same time, the attractiveness of China as a low-cost sourcing hub has diminished somewhat due rising labour costs and government diktats discouraging investments in sectors deemed polluting and/or energyintensive. This gives India a window of opportunity to emerge as a reliable

to actually building their core plants.

This costs – in terms of money, and even more importantly, time.

A medium-sized project that could be implemented in six months in most parts of the world takes two years or so here – a period in which the business dynamics could dramatically change! Little wonder MNCs who have the luxury of evaluating other locations have shown scant interest in India!

The chemical industry operates best in clusters where output of one unit flows into another as raw material. This also makes for safer operations. Hence, the setting up of new clusters and, just as importantly, modernisation of existing clusters, is paramount. Maharashtra and Gujarat have been the home of the Indian chemical industry so far, but the time has come to look beyond – to the South and the East coasts, for

revitalised chemical industry based on environment-friendly technologies that score well from a sustainability perspective. This should not be a kitty for meeting business-as-usual needs.

Reforms are also urgently needed in the approval process for setting up new units or expansion of existing ones. Delays on this front have strangled growth for the last five years or so. Companies compliant to internationally accepted norms of operations, such as the codes of Responsible Care, need fast-track project clearance, especially if they pose no additional stress on the environment. This has been tried to some extent in parts of Gujarat, but other States must also consider such a prioritisation. Lofty plans for monitoring high-value projects by empowered committees in Delhi are all fine, but a sense of urgency

The chemical industry operates best in clusters where output of one unit flows into another as raw material. This also makes for safer operations. Hence, the setting up of new clusters and, just as importantly, modernisation of existing clusters, is paramount. Maharashtra and Gujarat have been the home of the Indian chemical industry so far, but the time has come to look beyond – to the South and the East coasts, for newer sites. alternative. In most instances, manufacturing economics here are not very different from China’s, especially with hardening of the Yuan and depreciation of the Indian Rupee against major international currencies.

AGENDA FOR THE GOVERNMENT: UNTANGLE THE KNOTS

What are some things the government can do to encourage chemical manufacturing here?

Infrastructure development is key and cannot be over-emphasised.

Ready and world-class ports, roads, water, power, effluent treatment facilities etc., is vital to getting a project quickly off the ground.

Today, companies spend months (if not years) getting these basic requirements going, before getting

newer sites. If the chemical industry is to expand, it must be provided adequate place to do so – at a reasonable distance from residential and commercial locales, but not so remote so as to be unable to attract the skilled and semi-skilled human resources needed. Importantly, zoning laws need to be unambiguous as to where human habitation can be permitted. It cannot be adjacent to chemical plants – however safe they may be!

There is urgent need to support technological modernisation of the industry. The National Chemical Policy now in the final stages of consultation has mooted a Technological Upgradation Fund (TUF) for the chemical industry, as exists for textiles. Resources must be channelled into projects that lead to the emergence of a

needs to percolate down to States, Municipalities and local industrial development corporations, to boost investments by SMEs. The benefits stemming from free trade agreements (FTAs) need to be critically analysed. Inputs of the chemical industry associations – often sought at the last minute – need to be taken more seriously, and legitimate fears of a flood of lowpriced imports addressed by either keeping sensitive products out of the ambit of coverage, or give adequate time for the industry to prepare itself to take on the competition.

The growing markets of India can provide chemical producers an attractive base to locate their manufacturing activities. With the right support, they can use India as a platform to serve global markets – competitively and sustainably! z CHEMICAL NEWS DECEMBER 2014 z 11

D ICC D.M.TRIVEDI LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD FOR CONTRIBUTION TO INDIAN CHEMICAL INDUSTRY - 2013

[Education & Research]

Conferred on

DR. M. O. GARG

Director, Indian Institute of Petroleum, Dehradun

CITATION

R. M. O. GARG is a gold medallist of Nagpur University standing first in B.Tech (Chemical Engineering) from Laxminarayan Institute of Technology (LIT), Nagpur. He is the first 10 pointer obtaining A grades in all courses in M.Tech. from IIT Kanpur.

He completed his Ph.D. with world authority Prof. H.R.C. Pratt at University of Melbourne, Australia in the area of solvent extraction. Returning to India, he joined Engineers India Limited where he used his expertise to develop and commercialise 18 technologies related to solvent extraction in the refining and petrochemical industry. In addition to solvent extraction, he has been the first in India to implement advanced process control and energy conservation using Pinch technology in oil refining industry. He has also made significant contributions in developing innovative and advanced application of simulation and modelling and data reconciliation.

Dr. Garg is currently the Director of the CSIR-Indian Institute of Petroleum, a constituent laboratory of CSIR. Acknowledged and highly respected for providing outstanding scientific leadership to the Indian petroleum refining and petrochemical industry, he has brought the Indian Institute of Petroleum to an international level providing high science based innovations to not only the Indian oil sector but also to several companies and research institutions globally.

Recognising the growing need of alternative energy and conservation of precious hydrocarbon resource, Dr. Garg conceived several path breaking research projects which have resulted into commercially viable technologies; some of these have already been commercialised. Hydroconversion of non edible vegetable oil to Biojet meeting all jet fuel specifications, catalytic conversion of waste plastic to gasoline and diesel, bio cutting lubricant, low cost conversion of fuel oil to diesel, advanced technology for wax production are few examples which are recognised as milestones today of cutting edge Indian technologies.

Known for his unique ability to take research projects from concept to commissioning, he is perhaps one of the very few in the world who can bring high science to the industry and pursue the same with extraordinary vision, initiative and continued perseverance, against all odds including severe international competition. The recent success in commercialising the technology for recovery of pure benzene from FCC gasoline in a large private refinery in India will always be an example for others to follow. This is the first unit of its kind in the world.

He has been bestowed with several prestigious awards including the CSIR Shield for his commercialization efforts; Alkyl Amines Prof. B. D. Tilak Chemcon Distinguished Speaker Award; C. K. Murthy Memorial Lecture Speaker Award; Prof. R. A. Rajadhyaksha Memorial Lecture Award. During his illustrious academic career he has bagged several awards: Institute Studentship, LIT Alumni Association Prize in B.Tech, NELP Gold Medal in B.Tech, Mahadeo Dajiba Memorial Silver Medal and Adjudged Best Ph.D. Student by University of Melbourne. He is the most respected invited speaker in all prestigious conferences and forums related to the oil sector.

Under his leadership over the last 10 years, the Institute has won several prestigious awards namely: National Award for Technology Innovation (2013); OCCEANTEX 2012 Leadership and Excellence Award; CSIR Technology Award (1999, 2000, 2001 & 2007) and Most Admired Organization in Oil & Gas Sector (2013).

Being himself a scientific leader with strong academic interests, he initiated two post graduate programmes and expanded the doctorate programme as well the flagship training

12 z CHEMICAL NEWS DECEMBER 2014

courses being given by the institute to the refining industry. The institute now has a vibrant culture for research and applied academic training with 40 Ph.D students and M.Tech programmes in Applied Petroleum Science and Technology and Advanced Automotive Technology, besides, around 500 officers from industry getting trained every year in advanced topics of interest to the oil industry. In all of these courses, Dr. Garg himself delivers lectures which are highly acclaimed and appreciated. To quote the leader of SABIC after one of his lectures: “Dr. Garg has a heart of a teacher along with great practical knowledge, a combination which is rare and valuable.”

Dr. Garg has been the author of 245 papers published in high impact refereed scientific journals and has 33 national and international patents to his credit. He is an elected Fellow of the prestigious Indian National Academy of Engineering.

DR. M. O. GARG (LEFT) RECEIVING THE AWARD AND CITATION FROM MR. S.R. LOHOKARE, CHAIRMAN, TECHNOLOGY & ENERGY EXPERT COMMITTEE – ICC AND FROM MR. H. S. KARANGLE, DIRECTOR GENERAL – ICC, RESPECTIVELY. (DR. M. O. GARG COULD NOT PERSONALLY PRESENT TO RECEIVE THE AWARD DURING THE ICC AWARDS PRESENTATION FUNCTION HELD ON 30TH SEPTEMBER 2014 IN MUMBAI DUE TO SOME EXIGENCIES. THUS THE AWARD WAS PRESENTED TO HIM DURING THE ICC REFRESHER COURSE ON “SEPARATION PROCESSES” ORGANISED BY ICC ON 22ND NOVEMBER 2014 IN MUMBAI.)

Overall Dr. Garg, an outstanding chemical engineer and has been an exemplary leader who believes in leading by example.

In recognition of his yeomen services to education, research, industry and profession, INDIAN CHEMICAL COUNCIL is pleased to confer the ICC D. M.TRIVEDI LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD FOR CONTRIBUTION TO INDIAN CHEMICAL INDUSTRY (Education & Research) for the year 2013 on DR. M. O. GARG, Director, Indian Institute of Petroleum, Dehradun.

CHEMICAL NEWS DECEMBER 2014 z 13

IIT-B PROFESSORS FROM L TO R ARE: PROF. SANTANU BANDYOPADHYAY, HEAD AND PROFESSOR, ENERGY SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING; PROF. KRISHNA KALIAPPAN, ASSOCIATE DEAN R&D AND PROFESSOR, CHEMISTRY; PROF. PRASANNA MUJUMDAR, DEAN R&D AND PROFESSOR, AEROSPACE ENGINEERING; PROF. DEVANG KHAKHAR, DIRECTOR AND PROFESSOR, CHEMICAL ENGINEERING AND PROF. RAVI SINHA, DEAN ACR AND PROFESSOR, CIVIL ENGINEERING.

MEETING WITH DEPARTMENTS OF INDIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY BOMBAY (IITB)

I

CC arranged meeting of CEOs of member-companies with the Director and various Heads of Departments of Indian Institute of Technology-Bombay (IITB) on 1 November 2014 at Powai, Mumbai.

The main objective of this visit was to understand the activities of various departments of IIT which are of interest to the chemical industry.

The meeting was attend by Mr. Yogesh M. Kothari, Chairman & Managing Director, Immediate Past President-ICC; Mr. Rajeev M. Pandia, Mr. Ashwin C. Shroff, Chairman, Excel Industries Ltd; Past President-ICC; Mr. S. R. Lohokare, Managing Director, National Peroxide Ltd; Mr. Kirat Patel, Executive Director, Alkyl Amines Chemicals Ltd; Dr. Vijay Swaminathan, Director–Research, BASF India Ltd; Mr. Sameer V. Shah, Chairman 14 z CHEMICAL NEWS DECEMBER 2014

& Managing Director, Chembond Chemicals Ltd; Mr. D. P. Misra, Director, Development Consultants Private Ltd; Mr. Ravi Rao, Director–Chemical, DOW Chemical International Pvt Ltd; Mr. Frank Lelek, President Region India, Evonik India Pvt Ltd; Dr. Prakash Trivedi, Hon.Editor – CHEMICAL NEWS; Mr. D. K. Rana, General Manager–Works and Mr. B. P. Gupta, Dy. General Manager–Production, Heubach Colour Pvt Ltd; Mr. R. N. Mohanty, President–Technology, Pidilite Industries Ltd; Mr. B. Vivek Shetty, Chairman, Viswaat Chemicals Ltd; Mr. O. P. Goyal, Member–Technology & Energy Expert Committee, ICC; Mr. H. S. Karangle, Director General and Mr. R. R. Gokhale, Secretary General, ICC. Mr. Devang V. Khakhar, Director, Indian Institute of Technology-

Bombay welcomed ICC delegation and introduced team of professors from IITB from different departments such as Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Energy, Bio Technology, Bio Science, etc. He said that at present there are more than 7500 students attending various courses at IIT campus and out of them more than 54% are engaged in Post Graduate and / or research degrees.

He further informed that IITB has established strong links with the industry in the form of consulting, sponsorship, research projects, etc.

Professors from departments of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Energy and others also made presentations giving details of their departments, its strengths, its achievements, facilities available in the department, etc.

During the course of interaction,

ICC members were informed about the technologies available and which have been patented by IITB. Some of these are: z A method of making nanocarbon structures from cashew nut shell pyrolysis vapours z A method for coating steel components with diamond by chemical vapour deposition (CVD) and steel components obtained thereby z A novel process for sterilizing of bio-materials using supercritical fluid

z A process for cyclic supercritical fluid (SCF) CO2 extraction of fragrances (absolute or essential oils) from jasmine flowers z Asymmetric synthesis of y-nitrophosphonates in the absence of any other chiral catalysts z Clays as cell openers in polyurethane foam z Malonic acid based monomers and polymers z Method for improving particulate mixing and heat transfer in tumbling mixers and rotary kiln z N-alkylation of amino acids and its application in designer functional biopolymers z Novel 3, 4-propylenedioxythiophene derivatives with pendant functional groups z Novel polymers of 3, 4-propylenedioxythiophene derivates with pendant functional groups z O-alkylation of bis-methyl propionic acid and its application, etc.

Mr. Yogesh M. Kothari, Past President of ICC also highlighted various activities undertaken by ICC and especially through its Technology & Energy Expert Committee.

After presentation of Mr. Yogesh M. Kothari, during interaction with ICC delegation several issues were discussed:

z Industry wanted to know how IITB and industry can collaborate for promoting ‘Swatchh Bharat Abhiyan’ of Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi, especially for waste management? z Continuing education: how IITB professors can support industries’ initiative for imparting continuing education to industry people? z How employability of Ph.D. students of Chemistry Department can be improved? z Like China, can IITB help Indian industry in developing technologies for underground coal gasification? z This century has a potential to be Bio Technology / Bio Science Century. How can industry and IITB identify potential areas of development for chemical industry i.e. new feedstocks for the industry? z How to improve image of the industry and attract talent to chemistry related education?

A suggestion was made, which was accepted by Director of IITB to form a Task Force consisting representatives of IITB and ICC for taking steps for developing collaboration between IITB and industry.

[DOCUMENTS COLLECTED AT IITB ARE AVAILABLE IN ICC – MUMBAI OFFICE AND INTERESTED MEMBERS MAY CONTACT ICC SECRETARIAT FOR THE SAME.]

PART VIEW OF ICC DELEGATION

CHEMICAL NEWS DECEMBER 2014 z 15

INDUSTRIAL SEMINAR ON EXPANDING AWARENESS ON GREEN CHEMISTRY & GREEN PROCESSES FOR PLANT AND PRODUCTION MANAGERS

A

One-day Industrial Seminar on Expanding Awareness on Green Chemistry & Green Processes for Plant and Production Managers was organised on 16th October 2014, at Hotel Lords' Plaza, Ankleshwar, Gujarat.

The objectives of the Seminar were as follows: Z To introduce and expand the understanding of 12 Principles of Green Chemistry and Green Engineering particularly amongst the Plant and Production Managers / Personnel Z To bring forth technical know-how of implementing Green Chemistry and Green Engineering practices with a profit-centric approach Z To introduce technical insights on integrating Green Chemistry based practices in their existing manufacturing units Z To connect participants to immediate solution provider companies/ institutes for resolving their environmental and expansion challenges Z To learn from locally implemented successful case-studies and exchange of experiences

ORGANISERS, SUPPORTERS & PARTNERS The Seminar was jointly organised

by Indian Chemical Council (ICC) and Green ChemisTree Foundation (GCF) with support from Dept. of Chemicals & Petrochemicals (DCPC), Govt. of India; Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB); Jhagadia Industries Association (JIA); Ankleshwar Industries Association 16 z CHEMICAL NEWS DECEMBER 2014

(AIA); Panoli Industries Association (PIA) and Industry Partners such as Aarti Industries Ltd. and UPL Limited (formerly United Phosphorous).

PARTICIPATION The Seminar was well attended by over 100 personnels from Plant, Operations and EHS departments of more than 50 chemical companies from Ankleshwar, Panoli, Jhagadia, Surat, Vapi, Nandesari. The companies participated were a mix of MNC (20%), Large (30%) and SME categories (50%).

SPEAKERS, CONTEXT & CONTENT Leading academia experts who contributed to the deliberation includes Prof. (Dr.) V V Mahajini, ExProfessor of Chemical Engineering,.

Institute of Chemical Technology. Dr. Parameswaran, VP- Environment, United Phosphorus Ltd.; Shri J. D. Kalyani, Vigilance Officer, South Zone- Gujarat Pollution Control Board; Mr. Nitesh Mehta, Founder Director, Newreka Green Synth Technologies Pvt. Ltd & Green ChemisTree Foundation.

The Welcome addresses by an Industry leader Dr. Parameswaran and another by the Vigilance Officer of GPCB Mr. J D Kalyani, was the right blend as both the Invitees emphasised on the importance

of Pollution Prevention at source.

By sheer virtue of their industrial experience and expertise the audience could well relate to their sharing and common insistence on looking at 'greener' alternatives to implement before End-of-Pipe treatment.

Dr (Prof.) Mahajani's Keynote presentation was a comprehensive overview on today's environmental sustainability scenario, vis-àvis the future and image of chemical industry, definition and scope of Green Chemistry and the opportunities that exist for companies to be ahead in mapping their green chemistry and engineering practices and implementation, along with few case-studies. Prof. Mahajani's presentation was technically insightful and with several examples that can serve as instant “tip-offs” for the industry audience in adopting appropriate approach for addressing their immediate environmental and effluent challenges.

Equally inspiring was the extempore talk by one of the senior most Participants- Shri. Babubhai

Patel, who shared with the audience on one of his pioneering initiatives on cavitation technology. The talk was followed by Mr. Nitesh Mehta's presentation on Opportunities and barriers of Green Chemistry implementation. Mr. Mehta, a young Enviropreneur with his pioneering experience in the field of commercializing Green Chemistry technologies in Indian Chemical Companies, particularly those from the SME sectors, brought-forth the Business case of implementing Green Chemistry & Green Engineering as a long-term strategy to sustain our businesses not only in India but in the Global market.

Mr. Mehta shared with the audience on the global trends, opportunities and challenges of Industrial Green Chemistry.

The Seminar aptly incorporated an informative presentation by the Senior Project Engineer, Mr. Mr. Hiren Bhendwal from Gujarat Cleaner Production Centre (GCPC), on the wide-ranging Govt.

Policies and incentives on Green Chemistry, Clean Technology and similar environmental initiatives as available till date. Mr. Bhendwal's comprehensive presentation on all the relevant schemes available in this direction was found to be of immediate interest to many of the Industry Participants.

The second part of the Seminar, brought-forth successful case-studies from locally situated companies such as UPL Limited, Lupin Ltd, Heubach Colour Pvt. Ltd., presented by their respective Site-Heads and Plant Managers.

One of the key presentations was made by Senior Principal Scientist, Dr. R S Somani, CSIRCSMCRI, highlighting casestudies of successful IndustryAcademia Partnership models.

This presentation showcased the technical strength and scope of Partnering with Research Institutes such as CSIR-CSMSCRI. These case-studies were further backed-up

by following case-studies from the Industry.

12 PRINCIPLES OF GREEN CHEMISTRY Developed by Paul Anastas and John Warner*, the following list outlines an early conception of what would make a greener chemical, process, or product.

1 Prevention - It is better to prevent waste than to treat or clean up waste after it has been created.

2 Atom Economy - Synthetic methods should be designed to maximize the incorporation of all materials used in the process into the final product.

3 Less Hazardous Chemical Syntheses - Wherever practicable, synthetic methods should be designed to use and generate substances that possess little or no toxicity to human health and the environment.

4 Designing Safer Chemicals Chemical products should be designed to affect their desired function while minimizing their toxicity.

5 Safer Solvents and Auxiliaries The use of auxiliary substances (e.g., solvents, separation agents, etc.) should be made unnecessary wherever possible and innocuous when used.

6 Design for Energy Efficiency Energy requirements of chemical processes should be recognized for their environmental and economic impacts and should be minimized. If possible, synthetic methods should be conducted at ambient temperature and pressure.

7 Use of Renewable Feedstocks - A raw material or feedstock should be renewable rather than depleting whenever technically and economically practicable.

8 Reduce Derivatives Unnecessary derivatization (use of blocking groups, protection / deprotection, temporary modification of physical/chemical

processes) should be minimized or avoided if possible, because such steps require additional reagents and can generate waste.

9 Catalysis - Catalytic reagents (as selective as possible) are superior to stoichiometric reagents.

10 Design for Degradation Chemical products should be designed so that at the end of their function they break down into innocuous degradation products and do not persist in the environment.

11 Real-time analysis for Pollution Prevention - Analytical methodologies need to be further developed to allow for realtime, in-process monitoring and control prior to the formation of hazardous substances.

12 Inherently Safer Chemistry for Accident Prevention - Substances and the form of a substance used in a chemical process should be chosen to minimize the potential for chemical accidents, including releases, explosions, and fires.

12 PRINCIPLES OF GREEN ENGINEERING Developed by Paul Anastas and Julie Zimmerman*, these engineering principles outline what would make a greener chemical process or product.

See also the Sandestin principles of green engineering.

1 Inherent Rather Than Circumstantial - Designers need to strive to ensure that all materials and energy inputs and outputs are as inherently nonhazardous as possible.

2 Prevention Instead of Treatment - It is better to prevent waste than to treat or clean up waste after it is formed.

3 Design for Separation Separation and purification operations should be designed to minimize energy consumption and materials use.

4 Maximize Efficiency - Products, processes, and systems should be designed to maximize mass, CHEMICAL NEWS DECEMBER 2014 z 17

energy, space, and time efficiency.

5 Output-Pulled Versus InputPushed - Products, processes, and systems should be "output pulled" rather than "input pushed" through the use of energy and materials.

6 Conserve Complexity - Embedded entropy and complexity must be viewed as an investment when making design choices on recycle, reuse, or beneficial disposition.

7 Durability Rather Than Immortality - Targeted durability, not immortality, should be a design goal.

8 Meet Need, Minimize Excess Design for unnecessary capacity or capability (e.g., "one size fits all") solutions should be considered a design flaw.

9 Minimize Material Diversity - Material diversity in multicomponent products should be minimized to promote disassembly and value retention.

10 Integrate Material and Energy Flows - Design of products, processes, and systems must include integration and interconnectivity with available energy and materials flows.

11 Design for Commercial "Afterlife� - Products, processes, and systems should be designed for performance in a commercial “afterlife."

12 Renewable Rather Than Depleting - Material and energy inputs should be renewable rather than depleting.

SOLUTION PROVIDERS SHOWCASE / EXHIBITION The key highlight of the Seminar was the Exhibition- an exclusive platform to tangibly connect environmental based solution providers to its industry seekers participating in the Seminar to seek short-term and immediate solutions for addressing their immediate environmental challenges at their respective Units.

Following companies participated as exhibitors in the Seminar: 18 z CHEMICAL NEWS DECEMBER 2014

Green Processes: 1 Newreka Green Synth Technologies' Pvt. Ltd., Mumbai 2 Geist Technologies Pvt. Ltd., Goa Green Engineering: 3 Corning India Ltd., Gurgaon ZERO Liquid Discharge systems: 4 PRAJ Industries Ltd., Pune Research Institute: 5 CSIR- Central Salt and Marine Chemicals Research Institute (CSMCRI), Bhavnagar Environmental Analytical Equipment: 6 PRIMA Equipments, Vadodara

OVERALL FEEDBACK & OUTCOME The Seminar & Exhibition effectively introduced the Industry Participants to various success-stories, local case-studies and relevant solutions with which they could identify their existing environmental and expansion challenges, and thereby impact their knowledge, willingness and commitment to incorporate new and emerging technologies. z The Seminar served as a platform to expand the existing awareness on the subject of Green Chemistry amongst the participating Chemical companies, and thus expanding their understanding on green chemistry and engineering based practices and technologies available for its industrial implementation z The Seminar facilitated a bridge between the Gujarat

Pollution Control Board (GPCB) and the Industry, and thereby transforming GPCB's perception of approach from Policing to Partnering. z The Industrial Seminar also served as an opportunity for the local companies to share experiences and case- studies, exchange initiatives and ideas and collectively evaluate feasible and implementable alternatives for impacting their immediate environmental challenges. z The technical presentations introduced various potential solutions that can help in resolving some of the pressing environmental challenges currently faced by the chemical industry. z The Seminar participants also utilized this opportunity to interact with speakers and experts for their guidance on their process relevant effluent issues, while exchanging their respective environmental issues and initiatives with other coparticipants.

The Seminar, in addition also facilitated a valuably interactive platform for solution providers and solution seekers. A panel discussion chaired by Mr. Nitesh Mehta was incorporated with the Solution Provider companies as the Panellists, where they shared in a nut-shell about their core competency and the audiences asked relevant questions regarding the proposed solutions.

CWC AWARENESS PROGRAMME

CHENNAI

DR. K. PALANIVELU, PROFESSOR, CENTRE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES AND DIRECTOR, CENTRE FOR CLIMATE CHANGE AND ADAPTATION RESEARCH, ANNA UNIVERSITY, ADDRESSING THE DELEGATES. SEATED IS MR. R. NARAYANAN, IN-CHARGE, CWC HELP DESK - SOUTHERN REGION.

T

he Indian Chemical Council (ICC) and the Department of Chemicals and Fertilizers (DCPC), Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers jointly organized and conducted an awareness programme on “Chemical Weapons Convention” on the 27th of September 2014 at Hotel Savera, Chennai . The programme was attended by 23 participants.

The main objective of conducting the programme was to create an awareness and understanding of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), the importance of the CWC Act-2000 and its relevance to the chemical industry. The other major objective was to highlight the importance of e-filing of CWC declarations and to discuss the issues faced by the declarants.

The program started with a

formal Welcome address by Mr. K. Kalyanaraman, Secretary, ICCSouthern Region. Dr. K. Palanivelu, Professor, Centre for Environmental Studies and Director, Centre for Climate Change and Adaptation Research, Anna University kindly agreed to be the Chief Guest of the programme. He briefly explained about the detrimental effects of the hazardous and toxic substances on the environment and the control measures being implemented by the Government of India. He talked about the importance of the CWC convention and the role played by the implementing body viz., Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).

The presentations pertaining to the CWC Act 2000 and its implementation in India, Verification Regime and Online declaration were

given by Mr. R. Narayanan, In-Charge, CWC Help Desk - Southern Region.

Mr. R. Narayanan in his introductory speech talked about the significance of the CWC and gave a quick overview about the CWC Act 2000. He talked about the need for declaration by the industries to the National Authority. In between the presentations several video clipping were shown, which were pertaining to the functioning of OPCW, about hazardous chemicals, use of nerve and blister CW agents in the battle field which are called as weapons of mass destruction (WMD), mechanism of action of nerve agents and the antidotes.

Mr. Narayanan started with the presentation on the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC). He explained about the CWC Act 2000, its implementation in India, CHEMICAL NEWS DECEMBER 2014 z 19

DISCUSSION SESSION IN PROGRESS.

stipulations laid down by the act, various Schedules of Chemicals, Discrete Organic Chemicals, declaration and verification thresholds. He explained about the terms involved in the declaration process with illustrated examples.

Followed by CWC presentation, a presentation on the Verification Regime was also given by Mr.Narayanan. He talked about the threshold levels and the basis in which the industries are chosen for inspection and explained about using an algorithm by the OPCW for the selection of industries for inspection.

He took them into his confidence, by explaining to them that declaration

does not always end up in inspection and explained about the threshold levels in detail.

Mr. Narayanan briefly talked about the Role of National Authority for the implementation CWC Act 2000 in India. He also explained about the need for declaration and also stressed on the penal sections of the CWC Act 2000.

The participants were quite impressed with the way the programme was conducted which was reflected in their feedback.

After the programme, there was an interactive session which went on well with the participants with their good response. They were quite

participative and asked a lot of questions in the interactive session.

The programme was attended by 23 participants. The participants were from Government divisions like Central Drug Testing Laboratory, Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, various departments of the industries like Production, Planning, Environment, Safety and Health, which showed a commitment by these industries. Our constant persuasion of all the industries really helped for increasing the number of participants.

The programme ended with a vote of thanks by Mr. M. Kothandaraman, CWC Help Desk Officer, Chennai.

CWC AWARENESS PROGRAMME

NAM

VISAKHAPAT

T

he CWC Help Desk of Indian Chemical Council (ICC) and the Department of Chemicals and Fertilizers (DCPC), Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers jointly organized and conducted an awareness programme on Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) on the 31st of October 2014 at Hotel Daspalla, Visakhapatnam.

The programme was attended by 36 participants.

The main objective of conducting the programme was to create an awareness and understanding of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), the importance of the CWC Act-2000 and its relevance to the chemical industry. The other major objective was to highlight the importance of Error Free CWC 20 z CHEMICAL NEWS DECEMBER 2014

Declarations while submitting the declarations through e-filing and to discuss the issues faced by the declarants.

The welcome address was given

by Mr.V.Gireesan, CWC Help Desk In-charge, Hyderabad. Mr.P.K.Ghosh, Joint Director General of Foreign Trade, Visakhapatnam kindly agreed to be the Chief Guest of the programme. In his address, Mr. P.K. Ghosh talked about the importance of the CWC convention, the implementing body viz., Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) and the role played by the DGFT in relation to the CWC Act 2000. He also talked about the achievements of OPCW while eliminating the Chemical Weapons for which the Organisation was

MR. P.K. GHOSH, JOINT DIRECTOR GENERAL OF FOREIGN TRADE, VISAKHAPATNAM

awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2013.

Followed by the Chief Guest address, Mr.R.Narayanan, InCharge, CWC Help Desk - Southern Region, started his presentations

pertaining to the CWC Act 2000 and its implementation in India. Mr. Narayanan gave a quick overview about the CWC and the significance of CWC Act 2000. He talked about the weapons of mass destruction, how cruel the Chemical Weapons could be to the mankind. He cited the examples of where and when the Chemical Weapons were used and the aftereffects of the attack. He explained about the use of nerve and blister CW agents in the battle field, mechanism of action of nerve agents and the antidotes. Then he gave an overview about the destruction of Chemical Weapons and how OPCW carries out the verification of destruction and verification of declarations submitted by the industries through inspection.

After the overview, Mr.Narayanan started the presentations which were pertaining to the CWC Act 2000 and its implementation in India, Verification Regime, Role of National Authority and Online declarations. He explained about the terms involved in the declaration process with illustrated examples.

In between the presentations several video clipping were shown, which were pertaining to the functioning of OPCW, mock inspections, how the chemical weapons are destroyed, mechanism of action of various chemicals agents,

PARTICIPANTS WITH THE FACULTY

effects of nerve and blister agents, what happened in Syria etc were shown using short video clippings.

After every presentation there was an interactive session which went on well with the participants with their good response. They were quite participative and asked a lot of questions in the interactive session.

Followed by CWC presentation, a presentation on the Verification Regime was also given by Mr.Narayanan. He talked about the threshold levels and explained about using an algorithm by the OPCW for the selection of industries for inspection. He cleared the apprehension about the inspection from the mind of the participants by explaining to them that the declarations do not always end up in inspections and explained about the threshold levels in detail.

Mr.Narayanan briefly talked about the Role of National Authority for the implementation CWC Act 2000 (NA-CWC) in India. He also stressed

on the penal sections of the CWC Act 2000.

After the presentations, there was a separate session on the e-filing of CWC declarations. The focus was on the submission of Error Free Declarations. With a short case study and with a few questions, the participants were made to understand the possibilities of where the mistakes could happen while submitting the declarations. A few participants from the industries who were inspected by OPCW were keen to understand the declaration mistakes and their doubts were clarified to them with similar examples.

All the 36 participants from pharmaceutical industries and chemical industries were quite happy with the way the programme was conducted which was reflected in their feedback. The programme ended with the vote of thanks by Mr.M.Kothandaraman, CWC Help Desk officer, Chennai.

INTERACTIVE SESSION IN PROGRESS.

CHEMICAL NEWS DECEMBER 2014 z 21

AWARENESS PROGRAM ON CHEMICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION (CWC) R ANKLESHWA

C

WC Help Desk of Indian Chemical Council (ICC) with the support of Department of Chemicals & Petrochemicals (DCPC), Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers, Govt.of India, organised CWC Awareness Programme (CWCAP) on Thursday, 6th November 2014 in the conference hall of Ankleshwar Industries Association (AIA), Ankleshwar.

The programme covered declaring facilities from Ankleshwar, Zhagadia, Panoli and Dahej. There were 49 Participants, all from existing declaring facilities, majority were from Other Chemical Production Facilities. The main thrust was to make industry aware on filing complete, accurate and timely declaration and on implications of errors in the information provided in declarations.

Mr. Anand Kane formally welcomed the participants and the Chief Guest Mr. Himmat Sheladia, Vice President Ankleshwar Industries Association, and requested him to

22 z CHEMICAL NEWS DECEMBER 2014

address participants.

Mr.Sheladia Informed participants that Gujarat being hub of chemical and CWC relevant industries has a major share of responsibility in complying its obligations. He reminded participants to provide accurate declarations and take advantage of services of Help Desk of ICC in filing declarations.

Participants were showed a recently produced 6 minute video titled as “OPCW Corporate Video” showing history of use of Chemical Weapons, OPCW’s role in destruction of Chemical Weapons (CW) and in promoting peaceful use of chemistry and organising various programmes towards “a world free of Chemical Weapons”. It was also informed that OPCW was awarded “Nobel Peace Prize for 2013” for its achievements.

Mr.Kane informed participants about the contents of course documents that were sent to each declaring facility of the region two weeks before CWAP. Information was given on “confusion over the status of PSF- chemicals in relation to Discrete Organic Chemicals (DOCs)”. Details on SCOMET regulations with respect to import/ export of schedule chemicals to State Parties and Non State Parties and implications thereof were also informed. Topic wise information was also given on “Common mistakes

in filing OCPF Declarations”.

Contents of CWC handbook were also discussed.

Help Desk has discontinued distribution of hard copies of CWC Handbook and other relevant programme documents to participants. Instead, soft copies are sent to every declaring facility at least ten days before the programme. Five sets of hard copies were given for the library of Industries Association of Ankleshwar, Zhagadia, Panoli and Dahej, for reference purpose.

Mr.Kane thereafter gave a quick overview of CWC through a Power point presentation. Details on schedule chemicals, declaration criteria, declaration threshold, frequency and timeline of submitting declarations. Information on aims of inspection, inspection procedure and its duration was communicated.

The next Power Point Presentation was on e-filing, followed by “live demonstration of e-filing of OCPF declarations”. Information on data to be entered in every field of declaration form was demonstrated.

Precautions to be observed before freezing declarations were detailed.

Participants were communicated that DCPC has modified forms 4.0 and 4.1 of e-filing system to make it more user’s friendly. This is also a step forward towards providing

error free declarations. They were also informed about the OCPF declarations for Production Range B32 and B33 and on guidelines with respect to “ISO 9001-2008

by DCPC”. Participants desired to have a write up on these guidelines which have since been sent to all the declaring facilities of the region.

A simulated case study of “inspection of non inspectable facility” was discussed. It was emphasised that inspection of non inspectable facility can be avoided only by providing complete and accurate information in declaration.

Four representatives of industry that were inspected (Schedule 2, Schedule 3 and OCPF) in the past shared their inspection experience.

Representatives informed the participants to ensure that declaration is error free and records are properly maintained. They were also informed that plant sites receive good cooperation from National escorts throughout inspection process and that there is no impact on plant operation and routine activities of the plant site because of inspection.

Mr. Y.P. Saxena, Secretary, ICC Gujarat informed participants on provisions of CWC Act -2000. He also informed the participants on the progress of CWC related activities from the time first CWCAP was conducted by ICC in 2004. He also informed on CWC pertaining issues being taken up by ICC with DCPC so as to take care of industry’s interests. Mr. Saxena once again reminded the participants to comply with their statutory obligations.

Q & A session was interactive. It clarified doubts amongst participants on the declarations related issues.

The programme ended with vote of thanks by Mr.Y.P. Saxena.

He thanked participants for their time and interactive approach.

AIA was also thanked for making its conference hall and necessary paraphernalia available for CWCAP.

WORKSHOP ON ROAD SAFETY & DRIVER TRAINING & MANAGEMENT

I

CC with the support of “Multi Modes Transport Pvt. Ltd., a one-day Workshop on Road Safety & Safe Transportation of Hazardous Goods was arranged on 7th November’2014 at the Conference Hall of MCC PTA India Corporation Pvt. Ltd. The participants were mainly the drivers and transport operators of MCC PTA India Corpn.

Pvt. Ltd., a member-company of ICC. The Course was inaugurated by Mr. N. Shiraishi (Director-Production, MCC PTA India Corporation Pvt. Ltd, Haldia Manufacturing Facility).

Approximately 65 participants attended the Programme. The topics in the module included: z Defensive driving skills, z Advanced Driving Skills & Training, z Product Information, z Product Safety & Emergency Procedures, etc Educational films on “Defensive Driving” & “Causes of Accidents” were shown to the audience which were found to be extremely informative to the drivers.

The session was lively with

MR. N. SHIRAISHI (CENTRE) INAUGURATING THE REFRESHER COURSE.

A PART VIEW OF THE DELEGATES

questions and answers session where almost all the delegates participated. At the end of the Program, Certificate of Participation was presented to each driver who attended the program. z CHEMICAL NEWS DECEMBER 2014 z 23

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Aditya Birla Chemicals India Ltd. Alkyl Amines Chemicals Ltd. Anshul Specialty Molecules Ltd. Apcotex Industries Ltd. Astec lifesciences Ltd. BASF India Limited Brenntag Ingredients (India) Pvt. Ltd. Century Rayon Clariant Chemicals (India) Ltd. Colourtex Industries Pvt. Ltd. Deepak Nitrite Ltd. Dishman Pharmaceuticals & Chemicals Ltd. Dorf Ketal Chemicals (I) Pvt. Ltd. Dorf Ketal Speciality Catalyst Pvt. Ltd. Dow AgroSciences India Pvt. Ltd. (Lote Parshuram Unit) Dow Chemical International Pvt. Ltd. (Kalwa Unit) E.I. DuPont India Pvt. Ltd. Excel Industries Ltd. Galaxy Surfactants Ltd. Gujarat State Fertilizers & Chemicals Ltd. Heubach Colour Pvt. Ltd. Hikal Limited Indian Additives Ltd. Laxmi Organic Industries Ltd. Nagarjuna Fertilizers & Chemicals Ltd. Navin Fluorine International Ltd. Rallis India Limited Rohm and Haas (India) Pvt. Ltd. S I Group - India Ltd. Solvay Specialities India Pvt. Ltd. SRF Limited Supreme Petrochem Ltd. Tagros Chemicals India Ltd. Tata Chemicals Ltd. Thirumalai Chemicals Ltd. UPL Limited

What About You?

CHEMICAL NEWS APRIL 2014 z 9

DR. STAN HIGGINS’ COLUMN

“KNOWLEDGE CAPTURE IS A PROCESS”

T

hroughout the 20th Century the chemical industry was mostly product driven. It was the chemical industry that developed many new materials, new pharmaceuticals and new polymers, contributing a myriad of useful aids and devices that eased and enhanced every day living for society.

These inventions, underpinning the work of all the consumer facing sectors, be it the food, cosmetics, pharmaceutical, automobile and aerospace industries, have in developed countries helped to remove much of the daily work that to be done to feed, clean and keep humans healthy.

It is an almost universal truth that today, washing of your body and clothes and keeping food fresh and available, are not the tasks that they used to be for our parents and grandparents. Because of the improvements made in life’s every day chores we humans have created more time to invent and enjoy even more products of the chemistry using industries; such as flat screen TVs, telephones, I Pods and video games (electronic chemicals), all kinds of sports technology from soccer balls, trainers, bicycles, snow board and surfing gear (polymers.) Even 26 z CHEMICAL NEWS DECEMBER 2014

the motor car which in humid and cold climates used to begin to rot in months can now last many more years. Furthermore vehicles have become much more reliable and fuel efficient (due to the chemistry of catalysts, metal treatments, pigments, polymers, lubricants and fuel additives).

In agriculture with the help of fertilizers and soil improvers, herbicides and insecticides from the chemical industry we can (if politics allow) grow more than enough grain for both human and animal food.

Calculations and indeed in some locations already the reality is that agronomy has improved so much that surpluses can be created from which biofuels and other forms of energy can be made. These are clearly ideas and developments brought about by chemistry that earlier generations could only dream of.

CHEMISTRY A SCIENCE OF PROCESS We are moving so quickly through the 21st century, and from my perspective the way that products and effects are developed has changed. Individual scientific professions once beavered away on their own as Chemists, Engineers,

Mathematicians, Metallurgists, Computer Scientists, Biologists etc.

Today innovation is quicker where these technology leading professions have developed ways of working together and mostly work in crossfunctional teams. This is bringing new perceptions and solutions to the technological world in which we now live. Crucially working in this way is helping to shift the paradigms of understanding within individual scientific areas of expertise enabling a much more joined up approach that enables a inter-professional thinking and solutions to the complex puzzles that humans face. In fact this quiet, unassuming and often unnoticed scientific revolution has shifted focus away from products towards the process innovation.

More and more we are asking not what do we need to make, most of the questions are now about what is needed and are how do things work?

There is more process thinking going on to get the effect or products need.

According to Philip Ball in his book ‘Stories of the Invisible – a guided tour of molecules’: “much of the chemicals industry is devoted to the manufacture of ‘passive’ products – new plastics, cement, glue, paint, synthetic fibres – drug

molecules were always a little different.” He goes on to say that chemists are beginning to appreciate that a dynamic approach is now needed in synthetic chemical systems. “So chemistry is becoming less about the properties of individual molecules and more about how groups of different molecules behave together – forging and breaking relationships, modifying each other’s tendencies, sending out signals. Chemistry is becoming a science of process…” He suggests that “Chemistry is a genuinely new science, in many ways quite different from the traditional chemistry that makes useful substances. It is a science that is about an active ‘becoming’ rather than a passive ‘being’. Ball notes that this is already happening, and we are only beginning to see where it might take us in terms of tomorrows even more technologically enhanced world.

We can observe this today in many sectors. In pharmaceuticals we see scientists work from the knowledge of biological processes at the level of the Cell and even DNA before attempting to take part in new drug developments. Many of the older products of the 20th century are being scrutinised to help create energy more efficiently or reduce carbon usage and emissions

which has already resulted in both new devices and alternative arrangements of technologies.

Gasification of societal waste and anaerobic digestion come to mind here. We are inventing new processes to take crops (biology) into industrial plants (engineering) to make fuels (chemistry), polymers (polymer science) and pharmaceuticals (medicinal chemistry and bioscience) creating new bio-refinery concepts. Such knowledge and scientific crossfertilisation is now happening all around us.

CHANGING BUSINESS PARADIGM In response to this new dynamic open innovation has become one of the “buz” phrases in business.

It is used to describe the paradigm shift that is occurring. Some find the current liking for acronyms and buz words off putting, however this should not stop company leaders and strategists appreciating that open innovation is the process of working out how your business can capture and develop knowledge. A process that sis vital to the economic outcomes for most companies.

Too few chemical companies seem to have adapted their company strategy to fully adopt to this new

approach. I believe that companies of all sizes need to interact much more within consumer product supply chains and perhaps more importantly in potential new supply chains if they are going to win a piece of the future action. Today, with the internet and huge investment in R&D in industry and research institutions around the world it is impossible for all but the biggest corporations to keep abreast of knowledge development. But the fact is that knowledge and its effect on the innovation process is so widely distributed now that most companies are unlikely to succeed based entirely on their own in-house R&D team. Ask then how your company interacts with its external sources knowledge, where is it, who are they, and how do you identify business partners and bring your own expertise to the table? It is sometimes difficult at the beginning of such a paradigm shift in business thinking to see where the benefits will lie. Yet this is a process that with some strategic focus and management persistence over-time should bring consistent returns.

From my own interactions with companies around the world, too few have senior employees who are solely tasked with spending their time interacting externally with companies and research institutions.

They can become a professional conduit for new technical and business knowledge to enter the company. As a sector we seem to be happier to see our technologists clamped to a laboratory bench rather than tapping into the knowledge created by others. I suggest that creating new knowledge at a laboratory bench is more expensive and time consuming exercise.

DR. STAN HIGGINS is CEO of the Northeast of England Process Industry Cluster (NEPIC), a leading European Cluster for the chemical process industries see www. nepic.co.uk. NEPIC and ICC work closely on business development projects. Any opinions expressed in this column are those of Dr. Higgins alone.

CHEMICAL NEWS DECEMBER 2014 z 27

CAN INDIA BRIDGE THE GAP IN GLOBAL MANPOWER SHORTAGE? VIPUL SHAH President, CEO & Chairman, Dow India

28 z CHEMICAL NEWS DECEMBER 2014

WITH THE GLOBAL CHEMICAL INDUSTRY LIKELY TO WITNESS HUGE SHORTAGE OF SKILLED MANPOWER IN NEAR FUTURE, INDIA WILL HAVE TO ORGANISE ITSELF TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS OPPORTUNITY Globalisation has today forced many corporations to relook at their talent management practices.

This has become a necessity as

we are witnessing the change in orientation of many critical activities of global corporations which were previously vertically integrated and locally concentrated. For instance, R&D and innovation activities are no longer considered core activities to be retained by companies’ headquarters. These Centres of Business can now be virtually anywhere. Organisations can now

look forward to capitalise upon learning from a globally dispersed and mobile workforce operating in various centres of excellence scattered across the globe.

Managing such diversity in workforce appears to be the new norm today.

This also implies that challenges that businesses face today not only revolve around managing international competition but also

around crafting and executing strategies which synergise their global operations. This is especially so at a time when companies are operating in highly divergent and fast-moving markets. Corporations need to ensure that they have a strong globally diversified talent pipeline in place that helps them leverage the skills and capabilities to stay competitive. They need to create platforms to transfer and exploit competences across operations on the global stage.

Several experts point out that such challenges are only likely to grow in near future. One such challenge is the unfavourable demographics in developed countries which can lead to labour shortage. Accenture in its 2010 report had estimated that more than one-third of the chemical industry’s engineering and construction workers in developed countries are to retire in next five years.

China, which has a reputation for having an immense labour pool, is also projected to lead a shrinking workforce in coming years.

Accenture in its report also had pointed out that the proportion of science and engineering graduates in many developed countries has been declining for some time and university system have been producing more media studies graduates than chemistry and physics graduates combined.

India is placed comfortably to view these shifts as an opportunity to propel the growth in the chemical industry. According to the Government of India’s Economic Survey 2011-12, the average Indian will be 29 years of age by 2020, compared with 37 in China and the US, 45 in Western Europe, and 48 in Japan.

However, India has its own challenges to grapple withyoungsters who see the chemical industry as a part of the ‘old economy’ and consider the ‘services’ industries to be more attractive, offering multiple career options.

These youngsters also tend to seek out an open culture, flat hierarchies, flexible operating styles and a caring environment.

Hence, it is imperative that organisations today shift from a traditional ‘one-size-fits-all’ style of management to one that is more inclusive. This can go a long way in positioning the chemical industry as an attractive place to work and grow.

In order to retain and nurture this talent, corporations need to inculcate the culture of inclusiveness, ensure robust induction plans, invest in people and create opportunities for growth within the company to fulfil career aspirations.

But before this, there is another fundamental challenge which needs to be taken care of - youngsters are reluctant to pursue a career in science, for variety of reasons, such as inadequate infrastructure, limited growth opportunities, rewards and recognition, unattractive work conditions, etc. There is a need for industry and academia to join hands to make science a lucrative profession and prepare fresh graduates in order to meet the requirements of the ever evolving demands of the corporate world.

As per a 2009 study by R&D Magazine, India’s share in R&D spending to the total global R&D spending stands at 2.1%, while the share of China is 12.5%. There is clearly a need to increase spending on R&D as we move forward to become a knowledge economy.

Indian industry can make a huge difference here!

India with favourable demographics needs to capitalise on the above trend and aim to become a major player in the chemical industry, globally. In the coming years, India can grow from being a minor player on the global stage into a key contributor in the value chain with its knowledge and human capital and innovation capabilities.

[SOURCE: BUSINESS STANDARD, DTD. 27-OCT-2014]

CHEMICAL NEWS DECEMBER 2014 z 29

MUSINGS OF A CHEMICAL ENGINEER RAJAN SHAH’S COLUMN

I

n this column, I propose to address the subject of Process Control and Automation in the Indian Chemical Industry. There are significant differences in process control and automation between batch and continuous plants. Batch plant automation is more complex for reasons that I will describe.

The practice of process control involves two interconnected activities: z Developing a process and instrumentation diagram (referred to as P & ID) for the process z Proportional-integralderivative controller tuning and troubleshooting Basic process control can be defined as simple feedback control or single loop control i.e. loops with a single measurement and single final control element. The measurement could be pressure, temperature, level, flow, pH etc.. The final control element is typically a control valve.

Advanced control goes beyond single loop control and involves more than one measurement and final control element incorporating some mathematical relationship between multiple variables.

Continuous chemical plants almost invariably have installed process control systems since it is virtually impossible to maintain operating parameters without them. The advantage of continuous processes is that they operate 30 z CHEMICAL NEWS DECEMBER 2014

in steady state where process parameters are time invariant.

For these plants process control systems are designed to maintain the values of the controlled variable such as temperature, pressure, flow or level constant. Mathematical models have been developed for most of the common continuous unit operations. Several reputed vendors sell process control software which includes many control models and that can be customized for almost any continuous process. In addition several types of plant optimization software such as model predictive control are available.

The control and automation of batch processes is more complex primarily because process variables vary with time. For example in a batch reactor, the volume can vary with time as can the temperature and pressure. The heat transfer rate is almost never constant in batch reactors. pH as well as reagent flow rate can also vary with time and the reactor operation can vary between exothermic and endothermic.

Batch distillation has similar issues of time variant parameters. In addition equipment design also plays an important role in the equipment model. For these reasons commercial process control software does not generally include batch systems modules. The process engineer needs to develop the governing equations for the system

and then use the function blocks available in the control software for programming.

P& I diagrams are, or at least should be, developed by process engineers. Proper controller tuning is essential for the control system to provide the desired control of the process and for the automation system to function as designed. If the controller cannot be successfully tuned, the root cause can be traced to deficiencies in P & I diagrams.

The tuning problems are only symptoms of problems in the P & I diagrams. Today it is common to use automated tuning software for loop tuning. Though useful, automated tuning only works for loops that can be tuned manually.

A major limitation of automated tuning software is the absence of troubleshooting. It is therefore essential that process engineers who prepare P & I diagrams understand controller tuning. They can then also troubleshoot problem loops.

Modern process control and automation systems use a combination of a programmable logic controller commonly referred to as a PLC along with a PC with either SCADA (supervisory control and data acquisition) or DCS (distributed control system) software installed.

The software is used to display the P & I diagrams on the PC monitor, record and display data and trends, specify alarms etc.. The supplier

of the automation system typically provides all the measuring elements, final control elements, PLC, PC, SCADA or DCS software, software programming, control systems panels and does the installation and cabling and controller tuning. The software programming usually consists of programming the PLC the SCADA or DCS software. I have personally interacted closely with a few control and automation system suppliers in India. My recent experience with one mid-sized Thane based supplier was good but all their programmers were instrumentation engineers.

They basically did programming of the SCADA software to create the screens and the PLC for operation logic. My understanding was that their commissioning engineers performed controller tuning using tools available in the software. There were no process engineers employed by this organization and this is the norm amongst such outfits.

This set-up seems to work fine in India but it severely limits the ability

of chemical manufacturers to use advanced process control. Control and automation of batch processes would be difficult if not impossible to design and program. Most API producers and small and medium scale chemical manufacturers operate batch plants. The API producers operate large multiproduct manufacturing facilities and implementing batch process control would not only enable to automate their plants but also generate higher yields in reactors. In an earlier assignment, our customer achieved an average yield increase of 20% in a multi-product API plant by

implementing our batch automation strategy.

There is an urgent need in India for chemical engineers in industry who can mathematically model batch operations, develop P & I diagrams based on these models and expertly tune control loops. There is also a need for chemical engineers who can design and implement advanced process control in continuous plants. The Indian chemical industry would become not only more competitive but also more profitable by automating their manufacturing operations even if it means obtaining assistance from overseas.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: RAJAN SHAH received his BS in 1966 and MS in 1967 in Chemical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), USA. He then worked as a development engineer with MIT Prof. Dr. Ralph Landau’s company Halcon International Inc. (part of the Halcon/Scientific Design Group) in New York. He returned to India in 1968 and joined Aniline Dyestuffs & Pharmaceuticals Pvt. Ltd. (ADP). The company had been started by his father, late Shri. Shivanand J. Shah, who was a past president of ICMA (now ICC) and past Chairman of CHEMEXCIL. In 1990 Rajan started Chemet Design & Engineering (I) Pvt. Ltd. to provide design, engineering and construction services for the chemical process industries. He moved to Australia in 1998 and has continued to provide design and process consulting services in Australasia, India and USA. Since 2005, Rajan has also been associated with Biospecialties International Pty. Ltd. as CEO, where he was engaged in developing the manufacturing process for a novel peptide for use as an ingredient in health supplements.

CHEMICAL NEWS DECEMBER 2014 z 31

CRYOPRESERVATION: A POTENTIAL TECHNIQUE FOR REVIVAL OF LIFE Abhishek Dubey, Rikhil Iyer, and Usha Nambiar

ABSTRACT Cryonics is the practice of preserving human bodies in extremely cold temperatures with the hope of reviving body fluids or organs or even life in future for , cryonics can be considered an 32 z CHEMICAL NEWS DECEMBER 2014

intervention whose success quotient might vary widely depending on circumstances.

The central premise of cryonics is that long-term memory as well as factors determining personality and identity are stored

in durable neural structures and patterns within the brain that do not require continuous brain activity to survive. This concept is generally accepted in neural medicine; it is known that the brain can stop functioning under

certain conditions and still regain function with retention of longterm memory. Additional scientific premises underlying cryonics are as follows: (1) Brain structures storing long-term memory and personality-determining characteristics persist for some time after legal death.(2) These structures can be preserved by cryopreservation. (3) Future technologies that could restore stored memories to functional expression in a revived human body are theoretically possible.

At present, only cells, tissues, and some small organs can be reversibly cryopreserved.

Advocates of this technique state that fine cell structures of the brain that store memory and identity-determining factors can be preserved with existing technology.

They say that demonstrably reversible cryopreservation is not necessary to achieve the presentday goal of cryonics, which can be described as preservation of brain information including memory and identity-determining factors.

Current cryonics procedures can preserve the anatomical basis of mind, and this should be sufficient to prevent theoretic death until potential techniques for revival are made possible.

An ethical factor governing cryonics is that all terminally ill patients should have the right to opt to be cryopreserved. Some cryonicists believe, as a matter of principle, that anyone who would ordinarily be regarded as dead should instead be made a “permanent patient” subject to the changes extended by future technological advances.

METHOD OF CRYOPRESERVATION The person who desires to be cryopreserved has to join a cryonics facility and pay an annual membership fee. Then, when his heart stops beating and he

is pronounced “legally dead,” an emergency response team from the facility springs into action. The team stabilizes the body, supplying the brain with enough oxygen and blood to preserve minimal function until the body is transported to the suspension facility. The body is packed in ice and injected with heparin (an anticoagulant), to prevent the blood from clotting during transit. A medical team awaits the arrival of the body at the cryonics facility.

Once the person is transported to the cryonics facility, the actual procedure of “freezing” begins.

Cryonics facilities cannot simply put their patients into a vat of liquid nitrogen, because the water inside their cells would freeze. When water freezes, it expands -- this would cause the cells to burst. The cryonics team must first remove the water from the cells and replace it with a glycerol-based chemical mixture called cryoprotectant -- a sort of human antifreeze. The goal is to protect the organs and tissues from forming ice crystals at extremely low temperatures. This process, called vitrification, puts the cells into a state of suspended animation.

FIG.2: A COMPUTER DISPLAYS PARAMETERS SUCH AS TEMPERATURE, FLOW RATE, AND PRESSURE DURING THE FOUR-HOUR VITRIFICATION PROCEDURE.

placed into a large metal tank filled with liquid nitrogen maintained at a temperature of around -196°C(-320 degrees Fahrenheit). The body is then stored head down, so if at aII there is a leak in the tank, the brain would stay immersed in the freezing liquid.

FIG.3: FOLLOWING VITRIFICATION, PATIENTS ARE PLACED IN INDIVIDUAL ALUMINUM CONTAINERS.

FIG.1: A SURGEON AT ALCOR PERFORMS INITIAL PROCEDURES TO GAIN ACCESS TO A PATIENT’S VASCULAR SYSTEM, PREPARING FOR THE VITRIFICATION PROCESS.

Once the water in the human body is replaced with the cryoprotectant, the body is cooled on a bed of dry ice until it reaches a temperature of-130 °C (-202 F), completing the vitrification process. The next step is to insert the body into an individual container that is then

FIG.4: SEVERAL BODIES AND/OR HEADS ARE OFTEN STORED TOGETHER IN THE SAME LIQUIDNITROGEN-FILLED TANK.

CHEMICAL NEWS DECEMBER 2014 z 33

FIG.5: ALCOR’S CRYOPRESERVATION TANKS

Cryonics is an expensive method that can cost up to $150,000 to have the whole body preserved. However, for the more frugal futurists, a mere $50,000 will preserve your brain for perpetuity -- an option known as neurosuspension. Hopefully, for those who have been preserved this way, technology will come up with a way to clone or regenerate the rest of the body.

NEUROPRESERVATION Neuropreservation is cryopreservation of the brain, with surgical removal and disposal (usually cremation) of the rest of the body. Neuropreservation, sometimes called “neuro,” is one of two distinct preservation options in cryonics, the other being “whole body” preservation.

Neuropreservation is motivated by the brain’s role as the primary repository of memory and personal identity (for instance, spinal cord injury victims, organ transplant patients, and amputees have the right to retain their personal identity).

It is also motivated by the belief that because reversing any type of cryonic preservation is very difficult and complex, any future technology capable of it must be, by its nature, capable of generalized tissue regeneration, including growth of a new body around a repaired brain.

Some suggested revival scenarios for whole body preservation cases even involve discarding the original body and regenerating a new body because tissues are so badly damaged by the preservation process. These considerations, along with lower costs, easier transport during emergencies, and the specific 34 z CHEMICAL NEWS DECEMBER 2014

focus on brain preservation quality, have motivated many cryonicists to opt for neuropreservation.

The advantages and disadvantages of neuropreservation are often debated among cryonics advocates. Critics of neuropreservation note that the body is a record of the experiences gathered during an entire life span.

While few cryonicists doubt that a revived neuro patient would be the same person, there are bigger questions about how a regenerated body might feel different from the original. Partly for these reasons (as well as for better public relations), the Cryonics Institute preserves only whole bodies. Some proponents of neuropreservation agree with these concerns, but still feel that lower costs and better brain preservation quality justify concentrating the preservation efforts on the brain. About two-thirds of the patients stored at Alcor are neuropreservation patients. Although the American Cryonics Society no longer offers the neuropreservation option, about half of their patients are “neuros”.

OBSTACLES TO SUCCESS Preservation injury Long-term cryopreservation can be achieved by cooling to near 77.15 K, the boiling point of liquid nitrogen.

It is a common incorrect belief that cells will lyse (burst) because of formation of ice crystals within the cell. It occurs only if the freezing rate exceeds the osmotic loss of water to the extracellular space.

However, damage from freezing can still be serious; ice may still form between cells, causing mechanical and chemical damage. Cryonics organizations use cryoprotectants to reduce this damage. Cryoprotectant solutions are circulated through blood vessels to remove and replace water inside cells with chemicals that prevent freezing. This can reduce damage to a large extent, but freezing of the entire body

still causes injuries that are not reversible with present technology.

The difficulties involved in recovering complex organisms from a frozen state have long been known.

Attempts to recover large frozen mammals by simple rewarming were abandoned by 1957.

When used at high concentrations, cryoprotectants completely stop ice formation.

Cooling and solidification without crystal formation is called vitrification. The first cryoprotectant solutions able to vitrify at very slow cooling rates while still being compatible with tissue survival were developed in the late 1990s by cryobiologists Gregory Fahy and Brian Wowk for banking transplantable organs. These solutions were adopted for use in cryonics by the Alcor Life Extension Foundation, for which they are believed to permit vitrification of some parts of the human body, especially the brain. This has allowed animal brains to be vitrified, warmed back up, and examined for ice crystal-induced damage by using light and electron microscopy; no ice crystal-induced damage was recorded. The Cryonics Institute also uses a vitrification solution developed by their staff cryobiologist, Dr. Yuri Pichugin, applying it principally to the brain. Vitrification in cryonics is different from vitrification in mainstream cryobiology because vitrification in cryonics is not reversible with current technology; it is only structural vitrification. When successful, it can prevent freezinginduced injury in some body parts, but at the price of toxicity caused by cryoprotectant chemicals. The nature of this toxicity is still poorly understood. Cryonicists assume that toxicity is more subtle and repairable than obvious structural damage that would otherwise be caused by freezing. If, for example, toxicity is due to denatured proteins, those proteins could be repaired or replaced.

Ischemic injury

Revival

Ischemia means inadequate or lack of blood circulation that deprives tissue of oxygen and nutrients. At least several minutes of ischemia are a typical part of cryonics because of the common legal requirement that cryonics procedures do not begin until blood circulation stops. The heart must stop beating so that legal death can be declared. When there is advance notice of impending legal death, it is sometimes possible to deploy a team of technicians to perform a “standby procedure”. The team artificially restores blood circulation and breathing by using techniques similar to cardiopulmonary resuscitation as soon as possible after the heart stops beating.

The aim is to keep tissues alive after legal death by analogy to conventional medical procedures in which viable organs and tissues are obtained for transplant from legally deceased donors. Legal death does not mean that all cells of the body have died. Often in cryonics, the brain is deprived of oxygen supply for many minutes at warm temperatures, or even hours if the heart stops unexpectedly.

This causes ischemic injury to the brain and other tissues that deems resuscitation impossible by existing medical technology.

Cryonicists justify preservation under such conditions by noting recent advances that allow brain resuscitation after longer periods of ischemia than the traditional limit of4-to-6-minutes, and preservation of brain structures as well as some neural function after long periods of clinical death. They argue that definitions of death change as technology advances and the early stages of what is called “death” today is actually a form of ischemic injury that will be reversible in future. They claim that individual survival during long periods of clinical death is determined by information-based theoretic criteria.

Those who believe that revival may someday be possible generally look toward advanced bioengineering, molecular nanotechnology, nanomedicine, or “mind uploading” as key technologies. Revival requires repairing damage due to lack of oxygen, cryoprotectant toxicity, thermal stress (fracturing),and freezing in tissues that do not successfully vitrify, and reversing the effects that caused death. In many cases, extensive tissue regeneration will be necessary. Hypothetical revival scenarios generally envision repairs being performed by vast numbers of microscopic organisms or devices. These devices would restore healthy cell structure and chemistry at the molecular level, ideally before warming. More radically, “mind transfer” has also been suggested as a possible revival approach if and when technology is ever developed to scan the memory contents of a preserved brain.

It has sometimes been written that cryonics revival will be a “last in, first out” process. People cryopreserved in future, with better technology, may require less advanced technology for revival because they would have been cryopreserved with improved technology that causes less tissue damage. In this view, preservation methods will get progressively better until eventually they are demonstrably reversible, after which medicine will begin to reach back and revive bodies cryopreserved by more primitive methods. Revival of bodies cryopreserved by early cryonics technology may require centuries, if it is possible at all. The “last in, first out” view of cryonics has been criticized because the quality of cryopreservation depends on many factors, other than the era in which cryopreservation is undertaken. It is claimed that if technologies for highly specific molecular analysis and repair are ever developed, then theoretically, any damaged

body could be “revived”. Survival would then depend on whether the preserved brain information is adequate to permit restoration of all or part of the personal identity of the original person, with amnesia being the final dividing line between success and failure.

Financial difficulties Financing storage of a cryonics patient at a cryonics organization by an on-going payment system was done during the early days of cryonics, but this system proved to be unworkable. Cryonics patients are to be stored for many decades, if not a century or two or longer, and a reliable source of outside funding is highly unlikely. “Pay-asyou go” funding was part of the reason for the CSC Chatsworth financial failure described in the history section. All modern cryonics organizations require full payment for all future costs associated with storage “in perpetuity” before patient cryostorage will be accepted.

Costs of cryonics vary greatly, ranging from the basic fee of $12,000 for neuro (head or brain only) cryopreservation at the European cryonics company KrioRus , to more than $250,000 for whole body cryopreservation by Alcor with overseas and last minute fees. Alcor’s neuropreservation is priced at $80,000, while full body preservation is priced at $200,000. There is an extra $500 annual membership fee during life by Alcor. After payment of an initiation fee, ACS full members pay an annual fee of $300 currently The Cryonics Institute fee of $28,000 or $35,000 does not include “standby” expenses. While cryonics is sometimes suspected of being greatly profitable, the high expenses of doing cryonics are well documented. The expenses are comparable to major transplant surgeries. The two major expenses are standby expenses (a team of 5+ people needs to be hired for up CHEMICAL NEWS DECEMBER 2014 z 35

to several weeks) and the money that must be set aside to generate interest to pay for the storage of patients in liquid nitrogen in perpetuity (especially for whole body patients).

The most common method of paying for cryonics is life insurance, which spreads the cost over many years. Cryonics advocates are quick to point out that such insurance is especially affordable for young people. Cryonics providers claim that even the most expensive cryonics plans are “affordable for the vast majority” of people in the industrialized world who really want it and plan for it in advance. With the advent of low-cost cryonics provided by companies such as KrioRus (so far in Europe only), cryonics becomes feasible even for last-minute cases.

Legal issues Legally, cryonics patients are treated as deceased persons. A long established legal tradition, the concept of “lost persons” permits a person who has been declared legally dead to be later declared legally alive. Cryonics providers tend to be treated as medical research institutes. In France, cryonics is not considered a legal mode of body disposal; only burial, cremation, and formal donation to science are allowed. However, bodies may legally be shipped to other, less restrictive countries for cryonic freezing.

DISCUSSION When arguing their case, cryonics advocates tend to conflate nonexistent technologies that might someday be plausible with sciencefiction-level speculation, and speak of “first, achieve the singularity” as if it were a minor detail that will just happen, rather than a huge amount of work by a huge number of people working out the many, many tiny details.

The proposals and speculations are so vague as to be pretty much unfalsifiable. Answering can involve 36 z CHEMICAL NEWS DECEMBER 2014

trying to compress a degree in biology into a few paragraphs. Most cryonicists’ knowledge of biology appears severely deficient.

They also tend to assert unsupported high probabilities for as-yet non-existent technologies and as-yet non-existent science.

Cryonicists are almost all sincere, exceedingly smart, and capable people.( However, there are fanatics also.)

In widely reported allegations by their ex-COO, Alcor have been incredibly careless with the frozen heads in their care. Alcor denied all allegations.

The Society for Cryobiology banned cryonicists from membership in 1982, specifically those “misrepresenting the science of cryobiology, including any practice or application of freezing deceased persons in anticipation of their reanimation.

Mostly, scientists consider that cryonicists are failing to acknowledge the hard, grinding work needed to advance the several sciences and technologies that are prerequisites for their goals. Some cryonicists are cryobiologists, and therefore, are personally putting in the hard slog needed to get there.

CONCLUSIONS There are, at a minimum, five obstacles that must be overcome to allow the restoration of cryopreserved patients to life and health: 1. Reversal of any ischemia-induced or ischemia-reperfusion injury suffered during the peri- and postcardiac arrest intervals before definitive stabilization in the solid state can be undertaken 2. Repair of injuries- gross, microscopic, ultramicroscopic, and biochemical, secondary to the cryopreservation process 3. Cure for the underlying pathology (ies) that caused the patient’s

terminal illness 4. Replacement of any missing or discarded tissues/organs resulting from medical interventions (i.e., amputation, excision, ablation) or from neuropreservation 5. Control over and reversal of the aging process Human Cryopreservation Organizations (HCOs) can do little to address the last three obstacles, since advances in these areas will require many decades, involve a vast interdisciplinary effort, and cost many billions or even trillions of dollars. Further development of the enabling technologies required to implement nanoscale repair of cellular injury and tissue engineering and rejuvenation will require the efforts and resources of the global biomedical community well into the near future, and perhaps beyond.

REFERENCES

1. Best, B. (2013) Effects of Temperature on Preservation and Restoration of Cryonics Patients. http://www.alcor.org/ magazine/2013/09/26/effects-oftemperature-on-preservation-and-restorationof-cryonics-patients/ [Accessed 28th July 2014].

2. Best, B. Cryonics: The Issues. http://www.benbest.com/cryonics/cryiss.html [Accessed 23rd July 2014].

3. Cryopreservation. http://en.wikipedia.org/ wiki/Cryopreservation [Accessed 25th July 2014].

4. Hicks, J. (2014), MI Cryonics Inst. freezes dead for ‘reanimation’. www.metrotimes. com[Internet] 29th July 2014. Available at http://metrotimes.com/covers/mi-cryonicsinst-freezes-dead-for-reanimation-1.1727248 [Accessed 30th July 2014] 5. Information Theoretic Death http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Informationtheoretic_death [Accessed 25th July 2014].

6. Neuropreservation http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Neuropreservation [Accessed 27th July 2014].

7. Problems Associated with Cryonics http:// www.alcor.org/problems.html 8. http://www.alcor.org/ AUTHORS: ABHISHEK DUBEY & RIKHIL IYER Semester VII, Bachelors’ of Engineering Program, Thadomal Shahani Engineering College, Mumbai. & USHA NAMBIAR Associate Professor, Bachelors’ of Engineering Program, Thadomal Shahani Engineering College, Mumbai.

Chandermukhi, 3rd Floor, Nariman Point, Mumbai - 400021, INDIA Phone: 91 22 2285 1316 / 5176 / 5177

Email: nkrao@laxmiorganic.co.in

CHEMICAL NEWS DECEMBER 2014 z 37

SPURRING INDIA’S INDUSTRIAL POWER TO NEW HEIGHTS Amitabh Kant*

T

he Prime Minister’s clarion call for “Make in India” has brought manufacturing to the centre stage and emphasised its significance in driving India’s growth and creating jobs. A strong and dynamic manufacturing sector has to be central to India’s economic growth.

If India has to grow at rates of 9-10% per annum over the next three decades and create jobs for its young population, the manufacturing sector must grow at 1516% per annum on a sustained basis.

Most of the manufacturing jobs have been in the informal sector, which is characterised by low productivity and poor wages. The small informal firms in India employ 40% of our workforce, as compared to 4% in Korea and 5.8% in Japan.

While in China, Brazil and South Africa, the 38 z CHEMICAL NEWS DECEMBER 2014

manufacturing sector has grown at higher rates than the GDP, in India the share of manufacturing in GDP has stagnated at 16% and accounts for a mere 12% of the workforce.

However, manufacturing makes up almost 50% of India’s exports and every job created has a multiplier effect, creating three jobs in the services sector.

We are passing through a window of rare demographic transition. We will be adding nearly 138 million to our working age population by 2021-22 and manufacturing must catalyse employment opportunities.

Manufacturing in India has been constrained by two factors – lack of global size and scale of physical infrastructure; and redundant and outdated labour laws.

Enhancing the share of manufacturing from 16% to 25% and generating 100 million jobs is a challenge. This

IF INDIA HAS TO GROW AT RATES OF 9-10% PER ANNUM OVER THE NEXT THREE DECADES AND CREATE JOBS FOR ITS YOUNG POPULATION, THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR MUST GROW AT 15-16% PER ANNUM ON A SUSTAINED BASIS. implies that the manufacturing sector must grow at rates of 16% per annum between 2012-13 and 2022-23.

Along with employment generation, we need to arrest the pace of decline in employment intensity in manufacturing. Only if this decline is halved will we be able to create 50 million jobs. Almost 70% additional jobs will come from policy measures, which will provide impetus to employment intensity.

Therefore, employment generation from manufacturing will be a consequence of both manufacturing growth and enhancement in employment intensity. This necessitates skill development and flexible labour laws.

Achieving this will require a commitment to growth, with emphasis on job creation rather than job protection strategies. India will have to transform its manufacturing sector by focusing on labour intensive factories producing exportable goods, reducing the share of employment in agriculture from the present 58% to 25% by 2030, with industry doubling its labour demand. The new government has initiated far-reaching measures to drive manufacturing — it has improved the Ease of Doing Business by business process re-engineering, putting clearances and approvals online, and reducing human intervention.

It has opened the FDI regime up to 100% in rail; deregulated a number of items in defence and taken FDI from 26 to 49%, and in cases of modernisation and stateof-the-art up to 100%; and liberalised the FDI entry and exit in the construction sector.

It has also focused on improving manufacturing infrastructure by focusing on industrial corridors and Smart Cities.

What more does India need to do to usher in a manufacturing revolution?

Firstly, if the sector has to grow at 15-16% over the medium term, exports must accelerate at a faster pace to achieve growth rates of 25-30% in real terms.

Secondly, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) account for 40% of India’s workforce and contribute to 45% of manufacturing output. SMEs play a significant role in generating jobs. India needs to enhance their scale of operations, ensure better adoption of technology, provide innovative financing and mechanism for upgrading skills of workers.

Thirdly, labour intensive sectors such as food processing, apparels and textiles, leather and footwear contribute to over 60% of SMEs’ employment. Focus on growth of labour intensive sectors will enable absorption of growing surplus of unskilled labour, particularly in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Jharkhand.

Fourthly, as energy costs have a major bearing on the

manufacturing sector, India needs to quickly get its power sector back on track by removing constraints on coal and gas.

Fifthly, given that freight and logistics costs are high and 70% of container transportation is through roads, a modal shift from road to rail is necessary. The Eastern and Western Dedicated Freight Corridors should lead to reduction in freight costs.

Sixthly, port infrastructure needs an overhaul as average turnaround time in India is 3.5 days, as against 10 hours in Hong Kong and 16.5 hours in Colombo. Such lack of world-class physical infrastructure has led to IMD World Competitiveness Survey rating India at 54th among 57 countries in infrastructure facilities.

For large-scale manufacturing to take off, India must be transformed into an attractive investment destination, defined by easy availability of land, labour and capital.

Enforcing contracts in India takes twice the time it takes in OECD countries and costs almost 40% of the contract signed.

India’s archaic labour laws are the most rigid in the world. They protect workers not jobs and adversely impact economies of scale and investment. Land and labour laws need to be simplified and overhauled.

The government has focused on development of industrial clusters where it can create an eco-system of supply-chain responsiveness, lower logistics costs, availability of labour and technology upgrade.

These clusters will converge the advantages of innovation and employment generation for smaller firms with scale and cost advantage of larger organisations.

These advantages are visible in auto and auto ancillary clusters in Tamil Nadu and pharma clusters in Andhra Pradesh.

The Make in India initiative has identified 25 sectors where India can be a global champion. India must improve its competitiveness and companies manufacturing in India must become an integrated part of the global supply chains.

Over the next two decades, there will be a huge shift of manufacturing capacity from the developed to the emerging economies. India must capture a disproportionate share of this shift to create jobs for its very young population.

(AMITABH KANT* is Secretary, Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion, Ministry of Commerce & Industry. The views expressed are personal.)

[BASED ON THE ARTICLE APPEARED IN HINDUSTAN TIMES DTD.17-11-2014]

CHEMICAL NEWS DECEMBER 2014 z 39

This issue sponsored by http://www.aiche.org/CCPS/Publications/Beacon/index.aspx www.aiche.org/ccps

Messages for Manufacturing Personnel

Bhopal – The Worst Industrial Disaster in History

www.iomosaic.com December 2014

4

1

Just after midnight on December 3, 1984 (30 years ago), a pesticide plant in Bhopal, India released approximately 40 tons of highly toxic methyl isocyanate (MIC) into the atmosphere.

There were thousands of fatalities, hundreds of thousands of injuries, as well as long term health, environmental, and economic impacts. This 2 incident is widely considered to be the worst industrial disaster in history.

It is believed that water entered MIC storage tank E610 (1). An exothermic reaction resulted, generating heat and pressure which opened the tank relief valve. Some critical instruments in the 5 3 field and control room (2) were not working properly. A refrigeration system (3) was out of service and the refrigerant had been removed.

Gas from the relief valve flowed to a caustic scrubber (4) which was shut down for maintenance. From there, the gas flowed to a flare (5) which was also shut down awaiting replacement of corroded piping. The toxic gas Note: All pictures taken in December was released to the atmosphere without treatment 2004 at the plant in Bhopal exposing hundreds of thousands of people.

There were many failures in design, management, safety culture, and operation of the facility which contributed to the tragedy. You can find many good resources on the Internet which describe the incident in great detail. Take some time this Above: A sign in the plant control room month to learn about the incident, and what it means to you in your job.

What can you do?

Everybody in your organization, including executives, plant management, engineers and technical personnel, unit management, supervisors and foremen, operators, maintenance workers, and even office and service workers, should be able to answer the questions below. Obviously the answers will vary considerably depending on the person’s job responsibility, but everybody must understand his or her role in preventing a major tragedy like the Bhopal disaster.

What is the worst thing that can happen where I work and in my job?

What are the systems in place to keep that from happening (preventive systems)?

How do I know that these preventive systems are adequate and working properly?

What are the systems in place to respond to that event if it does happen (mitigative systems)?

How do I know that these mitigative systems are adequate and working properly?

Are any of the preventive and mitigative systems bypassed or shut down as they were at Bhopal?

What is my role in making sure that these preventive and mitigative systems are functioning properly?

Do your part to prevent disaster! ©AIChE 2014. All rights reserved. Reproduction for non-commercial, educational purposes is encouraged. However, reproduction for any commercial purpose without express written consent of AIChE is strictly prohibited. Contact us at ccps_beacon@aiche.org or 646-495-1371.

The Beacon is usually available in Arabic, Afrikaans, Chinese, Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, French, German, Greek, Gujarati, Hebrew, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Malay, Marathi, Norwegian, Persian, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Spanish, Swedish, Telugu, Thai, Turkish, and Vietnamese.

40 z CHEMICAL NEWS DECEMBER 2014

ADDRESSING WORK EXECUTION THROUGH INTEGRATED TECHNOLOGY PROVIDES NEW LEADING INDICATORS TO IMPROVE OPERATIONAL RISK MANAGEMENT Michael Neill & Scott Lehmann [This paper was presented at the American Institute of Chemical Engineers – the 8th Global Congress on Process Safety – held in Houston, TX, USA, during April 1-4, 2012] Part 2 (continued from CHEMICAL NEWS – Nov.2014 issue)

KEYWORDS: Operational Risk

Management, Work Management, Control of Work, Task Risk Assessment, Safe Work Control, Integrated Safe System of Work, ISSOW.

ABSTRACT Operational Risk Management is now a board level challenge for all companies in our industry. Recent tragic events strongly indicate a lack of awareness and understanding of the major process safety hazards and their risks by the frontline.

This increases the potential for further process safety incidents.

Furthermore, the lack of visibility of frontline cumulative risk and overall risk profiles is seriously impacting management efforts to fundamentally improve operational risk management and the efficiency and effectiveness of frontline operations.

To address these issues, a fundamental change in the way frontline operations are managed is needed. New processes are required that operationalize the

safe work execution rules and establish structured processes to ensure that people are guided to the correct operational decisions that are appropriate to their conditions and context. Technology can be a significant enabler of business process in oil and gas industry as it has been for other industries.

Frontline operations have changed very little in the past 40 years making it difficult for frontline workers to consistently make the right decisions without the right tools. It is ironic that supermarket checkout operators have access to more technology than frontline technicians yet the consequences of each making mistakes bears no comparison.

The added benefit of deploying the right technology in frontline work execution is the access to real data that is generated as part of routine frontline work. This data can provide insight into how work is actually is done, how well it is planned and how well engaged the frontline is in process safety management.

For the first time, management is

able to have access to new leading indicators of both operational risk and work efficiency. Management can now exercise oversight and use the data to not only demonstrate compliance but build the foundation for continually improving operational performance.

HOW TO ASSESS AND MEASURE CUMULATIVE RISK One of the obstacles to assessing cumulative risk is that it requires processing significant amounts of data effectively and in real time. With work being managed using paper forms, no relevant data is being routinely captured and therefore cannot be utilized either for historical analysis or for presentation in real time. Over the past 10 years there has been some movement within the O&G industry with the gradual adoption of electronic Permit to Work systems. These systems afford much greater control of the ongoing work particularly in high activity plants. Other benefits they offer include the ability to store and re-use permits, risk assessments CHEMICAL NEWS DECEMBER 2014 z 41

and isolation schemes for jobs which are repetitive over a cycle. They also deliver some much needed efficiency improvements in this space.

However, they often are not designed to collect data and utilize it in a manner which can establish line of sight on operations. Next generation Work Execution systems provide ePTW as part of their functionality but also collect vast quantities of data and provide the means to leverage this data to improve decision making and operational risk management.

Such systems will allow Operations Teams to identify cumulative risk issues during the near time planning of jobs. These tools provide a view of work in space, have very simple planning visualization modules where work planned for the coming few days can be seen not only in terms of its clashes and demands on local resources, but also through a cumulative risk picture. It will highlight periods of excessive risk and allow the Operations Team to simply move planned work packages in time in order to reduce the predicted risk to more acceptable levels.

By pre-assigning risk weighting values to a number of specific job based risk factors, external factors and other factors associated with the interaction of jobs within a defined area of the plant, an indication of

the cumulative risk levels can be automatically calculated based on the data generated as part of the work execution process. Data from the job details, risk assessments, permit types, scheduling and other areas is available to be used as part of the cumulative risk calculations.

Process hazard data is input once only as part of the plant design.

Other variables such as human factors and environmental data can be input daily.

Some of the additional cumulative risk factors include: z The volume of jobs z The complexity of jobs z Potential clashes between individual jobs; z Simultaneous operations (SIMOPS); z The current status of the work (i.e. ‘in progress’, ‘suspended’, or ‘complete’); z The impact of any one job on the others; The image below (fig. 6) represents the dynamic visualization of the safe work plan. Traditionally, we have provided the people responsible for planning frontline work very few resources or tools to determine the right balance between the volume of work, cumulative risk and type of work. While most organizations have clear standards for SimOps in terms of what work can be done at the same time as other types, we as an industry have

essentially left it to our frontline supervisors to “juggle” risk rather than provide them with the tools to properly “manage” this risk. The dynamic visualization of the “actual” plan reflecting the frontline realities provides our people who issue, review and approve work further assistance to both structure and improve their decision making.

The image below (fig. 7) provides frontline supervisors the ability to see the level of risk they are carrying on any given day for the work they have planned. Job data, as previously mentioned, can be automatically scored based on pre-assigning risk weighting values providing an indication of risk per job, per area, per plant, per facility and even for entire organization for a defined unit of time such as a shift or a day. It provides a valuable tool to better understand the level of risk. By moving jobs on the safe work plan they can see the impact of the change positively or negatively in terms of the overall cumulative risk.

PERFORMANCE INDICATORS API recommended practice 754 [7] outlines the approach for process safety performance indicators for the refining and petrochemical industries. In the practice it has adapted the now familiar concept of a safety pyramid where the prediction is that many lesser consequence events will occur for

Figure 6: Sentinel Execution– –SAFE Safe Work Planning FIGURE 6: SENTINELPro PROWork WORK EXECUTION WORK PLANNING

42 z CHEMICAL NEWS DECEMBER 2014

FigureFIGURE 7: Sentinel PRO Work Operational Window Risk View 7: SENTINEL PRO® WORKExecution EXECUTION –– OPERATIONAL WINDOW RISK VIEW ®

every single high consequence event.

The API practice uses this as a model for defining 4 Tiers of indicators.

Tier 1 being those associated with loss of primary containment with greater consequence, Tier 2 LOPC with lesser consequence, Tier 3 challenges to the safety system and Tier 4 Operating Discipline and Management Systems. The higher tier indicators tend to be lagging indicators, historic records of events, and the lower tier leading indicators measuring the degree of compliance with standards and adherence to procedures, usually driven by audit.

The issue with lagging indicators is that, whilst they are important to measure performance, they tend to be reactive, focusing on a “find and fix” culture, as opposed to being proactive. It is safe to assume that many others in the field of HSE and Operations hold the same opinion, such as Tyronne Kalpee, VP HSSE of BP, who delivered his speech at AmCham’s 13th Annual HSE Conference 2009 ‘What We Don’t know will Hurt Us’ and states “... there are three critical weaknesses of this process if it is the primary means of responding to company risks. Firstly, it takes failures, injuries and losses to drive us into action, which may at best be described as reactive intervention at the lowest ranks of the HSE culture scale. Secondly, this type of risk

intervention is longer term (annually in most cases) and is unable to respond to changing risks to the business on a timely basis. Thirdly, the antecedents related to the root causes of these incidents are sometimes poorly understood so our risk interventions may be misplaced and not as successful in eliminating future incidents. In a proactive safety environment, these statistics (lagging indicators) are not very helpful as there is little control that can be exerted after the fact. Leaders must focus on essential safety leading indicators as a driver for predicting emerging risk and take decisive action on failing barriers to risk prevention.” [8] In addition, many leading indicators tend to look at how well standards are being implemented in a plant. A compliance audit will tell you if you if design standards have been followed, if maintenance programmes are being effective and also whether appropriate procedures are in place. Similarly programs for competency improvement and assessment should generate data on the general competence level of the workforce. Score cards can focus on the more important information reflecting the status of the plant and operations. Satisfactory inspections of safety critical devices, % of maintenance plan attainment, audit scores, etc. can all make up critical

score cards.

There is a danger of misinterpreting the data being collected and of drawing incorrect conclusions. Following the Texas City incident in 2005, the Baker Panel BP commissioned to review all of its North American Refining operations reported that in Texas City, BP has interpreted their improving personal safety performance as an indication that their process safety was similarly improving. [9] So one needs to be careful in the PI being selected and how they are interpreted.

With WE, we have a problem because there has traditionally been such a paucity of data in this space that no effective PI’s have emerged. With predominantly paper driven processes data is seldom collected effectively, if collected at all. Just from the material we have covered, it should be obvious that the WE management process has the potential for generating rich data which can not only indicate where risk is building but can also measure it effectively, in real time and can predict risk based on planned work schedules. Some of the data which could be a relevant indicator of daily WE risk could include: z Number of hot work permits live on the plant z Number of breaking containment jobs being worked on z Residual level of risk of jobs with CHEMICAL NEWS DECEMBER 2014 z 43

control barriers in place z Number of non-standard isolations in place z Competency level of shift operators z Number of temporary defeats or control overrides in place All this data is readily available but to date is not routinely collected nor are there attempts made to utilize it as effective PI’s. In fact it is highly likely that, were you to talk to Refinery Operations Manager, the person ultimately responsible for risk management on the plant, they would not know the answers to some of these simple but critical questions. As with the Baker Panel’s assertion of BP’s assumption around personal safety, we must be careful not to assume that positive indicators from our Process Safety reviews is an indication that WE risks are being correctly managed.

With electronic management systems for WE, such data collection and utilization becomes relatively simple, Indeed, more complex indicators can be generated automatically not just when work is executed but also when work is planned. As has been explained, many of the factors which contribute to risk are gathered as work is planned in the system. The type of job, the residual risks, the location of the work, the proximity to process hazards, etc are all predictable during the planning stages.

Furthermore, the cumulative risk of multiple jobs being scheduled for a single area can also be predicted based on the planned work. With smarter data processing within these systems we can begin to take a truly predictive look at the cumulative risk based on a work plan which creates a whole new concept to the definition of a “leading indicator”.

To date, most leading indicators tend to alert Management that there are problems. The corrective action, usually following a more in depth review, will typically be either policy/ business process change and/or 44 z CHEMICAL NEWS DECEMBER 2014

competency improvement. These are relatively long cycle change initiatives taking several months to indicate whether effective improvements have been made. The kind of indicators we are talking about with WE and the tools which will be available means that immediate action can be taken if forecast risk levels are excessive. Through manipulating work schedules, levels of cumulative risk will decrease to more acceptable levels.

Safe outcomes are not the only measure of Work Execution performance. The efficiency with which work is executed, the attainment of planned work, the effective utilization of resources are all critical measures by which we judge the effectiveness of our WE practices. Once again, the data to judge such measures historically has not been collected primarily because key parts of the process are managed with paper forms. True, there is widespread use of computer driven maintenance management systems (MMS) which records what work was carried out. However, key information such time spent waiting for permits, the delay between being the permit being issued and work commencing, details of associated scaffolding work, isolations/ worksite preparation, lagging removal etc, are typically not documented in the MMS. Traditionally, MMS systems have been transactional systems and frontline interaction has been largely lacking in rigor and discipline.

Small steps in the job are typically not provided in any detail and are often overlooked in MMS systems but are steps which typically cause significant delays. The new web based WE systems will be able to fill in this data gap and provide similar leading and lagging performance indicators around WE efficiency as they are intrinsically part of an embedded process that the frontline must use in order to perform work.

In addition to real time prediction

of cumulative risk, we believe newer PI’s will be generated based on how plants use the generated information. The degree to which some plants will tolerate high levels of risk may be different but at a minimum, the transparency provided by these PI’s can help to drive improved decision making.

If these systems are deployed at an enterprise level, comparisons between plants will be relatively straightforward and we will be able to see, for example, when comparing two similar plants, one maybe achieves a higher level of plan attainment but in doing so has tolerated higher levels of cumulative risk. From a governance perspective, these systems will be able to provide an insight into frontline operations never seen before and from it will no doubt emerge further classes of PI’s which have yet to be considered.

CASE STUDY – USING LAGGING INDICATORS TO DEVELOP LEADING INDICATORS The combination of invasive maintenance and repair work with operational and safeguarding system impairment is often at the heart of the near missies, incidents and accidents. Most operators will run with a number of live operational impairments as part of their standard operating procedures.

The direct consequence of these interferences with safe plant design is an increase in the overall risk profile. While a certain amount of risk is inherent in frontline work execution activity, it is the increasing tolerance to risk that is problematic.

Specific safety barrier impairments on their own may appear to be manageable or of low risk. The control of major hazard risks depends on the concept of defence in depth, which requires that there be multiple barriers or checks in place. The problem is that the failure of any one of these is usually not perceived as increasing the risk significantly. It is therefore

underlying potential for the “domino effect” can easily go unnoticed unless it is monitored, controlled and made visible. Those facilities that still use paper based systems or even technology systems that merely digitize their old paper systems must rely solely on the competency of all of the individuals involved in the process. Through the implementation and use of appropriate technology systems at the frontline, work execution data can be collected and used to provide visibility and transparency in the form of leading indicators. Operators can use the technology to better manage their cumulative and overall risk.

Customers running our frontline

hard to argue that the failure of any one barrier is sufficient to stop the operation in its tracks. However, it is precisely the cumulative risk of multiple barrier impairments that is hidden by the lack of data at the frontline that often poses the largest risk. Each operational risk assessment and barrier impairment is a weak link and it is the domino effect of a combination of seemingly smaller barrier impairments and invasive work activities that end up having serious impact.

The risk is further hidden as often the person applying the override may not have visibility to the wider picture of other barrier impairments and invasive frontline work. The

work execution solutions have the ability to better understand the true nature of their operating and cumulative risk profile. Without a system of record for frontline work execution data and the ability to access and use the data, the number and types of Operational Risk Assessments remain buried in paper.

Visibility provides the opportunity to better understand and act on risk profiles.

As the following graph from one of our customers demonstrates, safety system impairments and deviations from standard operating baselines are not uncommon. In order to fully understand the risk, we must be able to gauge the cumulative

FIGURE 8: OPERATIONAL RISK EXAMPLES Figure 8: Operational RiskASSESSMENT Assessment examples Examples of Operational Barrier Impairment where Operational Risk Assessments were performed: Process Process Process Process Process Safety Integrity Integrity Integrity Integrity

– – – – – – – – – –

Override Export Compressor motor winding trip (intermittent spikes on start up) Install temporary diesel filter skid Continued operatopn with known leak from water side of produced oil plate pack heater Use of gas lift facility to kick off well with known A/B annulus communication Low interface level trip switch intermittent, switch overridden during service Laboratory fume cupboard defective extract fan, user must wear full filter with face mask Deluge set bypass b/v passing, drain valve cracked open to divert water away from nozzle heads Firepump hydraulic start accumulators removed for inspection, reduced start options Helideck fire monitor fails to oscillate, 4 week lead time on spares, additional hoses to be run out and ready UT inspection revealed pipe wall thinning of produced water line, continue to operate with daily testing until replacement fabricated Environment – Slight oil weep from hydraulic control line at subsea manifold, pressure and fluid loss rate to be closely monitored until repair.

Figure BusinessUNIT UnitSNAPSHOT Snapshot FIGURE9:9:30-day 30-DAY BUSINESS Business unit with (3) offshore production installations – 30 Day Activity Snapshot 100

90

80 70 Permit Controlled Work Activities

# of 60 Activities

Confined Space Entry

50

Operational Impairment

40

30

20

10 0 1

2 3 4 5

6 7

8

9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 Time - Days

CHEMICAL NEWS DECEMBER 2014 z 45

effect of such impairment and how the overall operational risk may be further compounded by the volume of work activity and its associated task risk. The graph (fig 9) details a 30 day snapshot of a Business Unit with three (3) offshore production installations. Specifically represented on the graph on a per day basis are the overall number of work permits, operational risk assessments representing system impairments and the number of confined space entry permits.

When looking at the data from the 30 day snapshot there are a number of observations or questions that need to be asked: z The number of Operational Impairment consistently represents between 10-12% of the number of permitted work activities z What are the specific operational impairments? z How long have these operational

impairments been in place? If they have been in place for some time, is the tolerance for risk increasing? z Who has approved these impairments? z If other types of permitted work such as hot work, breaking containment are overlaid on the graph, what percentage of the overall work activity can be considered high risk? z How is this higher risk work impacted by the amount and types of operational impairments?

The data can then be organized and presented to plant management to better assist decision making. The diagram below illustrates a potential option a Supervisor or Plant Manager might use to understand at a glance the following information: z Two week view on the planned cumulative risk on the plant (upper left hand corner – fig 10) where for each shift one can

identify an indication of the level of cumulative risk being carried on the plant. z Where that risk is concentrated on the plant (the Risk Radar chart on the right side – fig 10) for the highlighted shift.

By understanding where risk is concentrated and at what levels, plant management can see where they need to focus their attention and possibly intervene. z The overall cumulative risk for the highlighted shift (bottom left hand side – fig 10) The representation of planned frontline work execution risk data can play a significant role in allowing frontline supervisors to move from their current juggling of risk to more proactive and tangible management of risk.

Management can understand and visualize their organizations performance in key areas such as cumulative work execution

Figure 10: 10: Sentinel Execution– ASSET – Asset FIGURE SENTINELPro PROWork WORK EXECUTION RISKRisk VIEWView

46 z CHEMICAL NEWS DECEMBER 2014

cumulative risk levels and operational efficiency metrics.

They can also move beyond the anecdotal and rear view window audit metrics, to see now or over a period of a few weeks, if one of their plants is consistently carrying too much cumulative risk, how that level of cumulative risk compares to the current organizational trends and whether that level of risk is outside the norm for that plant. The Dashboard below (fig. 11) provides a view of just some of what is possible when a work execution system is implemented across an organization with multiple plants.

Management can not only see an indication (blue line on the Daily Upstream Cumulative Risk Index chart below, fig. 11) of their organization’s daily cumulative risk index for work execution but can also see the cumulative risk index for the next 3-5 days based on the safe work plan details and whether it deviates from the trend line. They can also see whether it’s the high risk jobs (red line on the Daily Upstream

Cumulative Risk Index chart below, fig. 11) that are driving the overall cumulative risk or whether the cumulative risk is being driven by volume of work or other factors.

Without the appropriate technology systems in place you have no data and with no data you do not have the visibility to even ask the appropriate questions let alone manage operational risk. The data provides the ability to see the potential hidden risk and the overall levels of operational risk. These leading indicators provide valuable information to various levels of governance who can determine if the risks associated with continued operation in such circumstances are acceptable. These indicators for the first time can point towards potential problems or the impact of degradation in key systems on the cumulative risk within the operational window early enough that corrective actions may be taken.

Work Execution systems connect the frontline to the boardroom by ensuring company policy is

embedded into practice with the appropriate levels of rigor and delivering insight and oversight of operations ensuring a shared sense of purpose across the entire organization. At the frontline, workers are provided with clear structure, boundaries and assurances they are following standards and best practices and most importantly the company is trying to keep them safe, not just talking about it. Plant supervisors and management have the tools to understand what the risk looks like on their plant today and tomorrow and can better ensure that more work gets done safely.

Regional and HSE personnel now have the ability to measure how well policy is being put into practice and are empowered to intervene to ensure continued safe operations.

Upper management can now for the first time establish line of sight on frontline cumulative risk and understand the impact on frontline operational risk due to increased production targets.

The aggregation of data

FIGURE 11: SENTINELPro PROWork WORK Execution EXECUTION ––GLOBAL DASHBOARD Figure 11: Sentinel Global Dashboard

CHEMICAL NEWS DECEMBER 2014 z 47

12: CONNECTING THE FRONTLINE TO THE BOARDROOM– –AAShared SHARED SENSE OF of PURPOSE Figure 12:FIGURE Connecting the Frontline to the Boardroom Sense Purpose

across an organization provides upper management with enhanced indicators and improved organizational knowledge of the riskiest part of their operations thus moving from ‘fix and find’ to a culture of ‘predict and prevent’. Operational insight can be viewed from frontline to the boardroom, enabling all levels of employees to make more informed decisions in real-time and for future planning. With powerful and accurate information at hand, management and corporate level employees are empowered to ‘intervene’ at any time to change plans and priorities, preventing any foreseen incidents and potentially fatal accidents.

SUMMARY Addressing the blind spot of Frontline Work Execution with the right combination of people, process and technology establishes line of sight on the potential cumulative risk of frontline work. This in turn significantly improves the ability to make better decisions around operational risk in order to improve safe, reliable and compliant operations. Work execution solutions can be utilized to complement 48 z CHEMICAL NEWS DECEMBER 2014

existing safety systems and deliver an enhanced PSM solution.

The added benefit of deploying frontline work execution technology combined with practical processes, consistent leadership and evolving competency is the access to real data that is generated as part of routine work. This data can provide real insight into how work actually is executed and the degree of engagement the frontline has with PSM. For the first time, management is able to access new leading indicators of both operational risk and work efficiency.

Management can exercise oversight and use the data to not only demonstrate compliance but build the foundation for continually improving operational performance and creating a pro-active “predict and prevent” culture.

We can no longer expect our frontline workers to “get by” with 40 year old solutions based largely on forms in triplicate. It is time to bring our frontline workers into the 21st Century by providing them with the tools and technology to support them in making the right structured decisions, ensure more consistent

operational risk management and adherence to PSM standards across the industry. More importantly management now has the ability to unite everyone in their organization with a shared sense of purpose.

ABOUT PETROTECHNICS Petrotechnics enables organisations in hazardous industries to transform and improve their frontline operations. Leading organisations have implemented our solutions to help them control, manage and govern the riskiest part of their global operations - Frontline Work Execution, where Process Safety meets Occupational Safety. We are the global market leader in Work Execution with our software being used on a daily basis by more than 50,000 users at over 350 sites in more than 22 countries around the globe.

With targeted focus on Upstream and Downstream Oil and Gas Industry, our solutions are relevant to any environment where Operational Risk Management is on the agenda.

Petrotechnics has a proven track record of more than 10 years of ontime delivery, global rollouts, deep

domain expertise and has become the Control of Work best practice in many of the top multi-national energy companies including global agreements with BP, Shell and ExxonMobil.

Sentinel PRO® provides customers the capability to operationalize the rules, procedures and best practices, integrate and extend competencies and serve as the system of record for frontline work execution data to fundamentally improve PSM. We provide the means to embed process rigour and minimum competency standards for routine frontline work

activity to ensure policy is converted into practice.

Our solution provides visibility over actual cumulative risk of daily operations providing an unprecedented degree of insight, oversight and governance.

Organizations are empowered to fully manage frontline work activities to balance risk and increase production demands safely and sustainably, helping to protect their reputational risk.

REFERENCES [1] Deepwater Horizon Joint Investigation Transcript – May 26, 2010, p.395.

[2] The Chief Counsel’s Report; National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling Report to the President, p.225.

[3] BP Control of Work Safety Booklet B, 2005 [4] Ferrow, Michael, “An Operating Management System to Deliver Safe Operations” SPE, 2011, p.5.

[5] Task Risk Assessment Guide, Step Change in Safety, 2007 [6] Process Safety, Recommended Practice on Key Performance Indicators, November 2011, p.10.

[7] Process Safety Performance Indicators for the Refining and Petrochemical Industries API Recommended practice 754, April 2010 [8] What We Don’t Know Will Hurt Us- Using Safety Leading Indicators as the next Step in Controlling Risk, speech, October 2009 [9] The Report of the BP US Refineries Independent Safety Review Panel (Baker Panel Report) January 2007

AUTHORS: MICHAEL NEILL, President, Petrotechnics USA Inc.; 11210 Equity Drive #250, Houston, TX 77041, USA; mike.neill@petrotechnics.com SCOTT LEHMANN, VP Product Management & Marketing, Petrotechnics Ltd.; Pavillion 5, Craigshaw Road, Aberdeen, AB12 3QH, Scotland; scott. lehmann@petrotechnics.com COURTESY: MR. SCOTT BERGER, Executive Director, Center for Chemical Process Safety, AIChE, Three Park Ave, New York, NY 10016, USA, http://www. ccpsonline.org. Tel: +1.646.495.1370, fax: +1.646.495.1504, mob: +1.609.462.505 & 98335 44780 (India). The Center for Chemical Process Safety (CCPS) was founded by the American Institute of Chemical Engineers in 1985 to give engineers the tools they need to prevent further accidents like Bhopal. Since that time, CCPS has published more than 70 books on all aspects of process safety and established a dynamic university curriculum for process safety. CCPS is supported by the contributions and voluntary participation of more than 80 companies around the world. For more information about CCPS, please visit www.ccpsonline.org or contact ccps@aiche.org.

CHEMICAL NEWS DECEMBER 2014 z 49

50 z CHEMICAL NEWS DECEMBER 2014

CHEMICAL NEWS DECEMBER 2014 z 51

PROJECTS INVESTMENT IN CHEMICALS SECTOR Cost in Rs. Crore

CHLOR ALKALI

Promoter: DCM Shriram Ltd. Cost: 534.00 Industry: Alkalies Completion: NA Location: Bharuch, Gujarat DCM Shriram plans to expand chlor alkali capacity from 450 tpd to 915 tpd at Shriram Alkali & Chemicals unit in Bharuch district of Gujarat.

It include expansion of coal based captive power unit from 55 MW to 110 MW. Awaiting necessary clearances. Work to commence by May 2015.

Contact: DCM Shriram Ltd., 5th Floor, Kanchenjunga Building 18, Barakhamba Road, New Delhi, Delhi – 110001. Tel: (011)-23316801-08, Fax: 23318072

DRUG FORMULATIONS

Promoter: Orchid Chemicals & Pharmaceuticals Ltd. Cost: 110.00 52 z CHEMICAL NEWS DECEMBER 2014

Industry: Drug Formulations Completion: NA Location: Aurangabad (MAH), Maharashtra

Serum Institute of India plans to set up a vaccines unit in Pune district of Maharashtra.

Orchid Chemicals & Pharmaceuticals plans to expand drug formulations capacity from 166.01 tpa to 430 tpa at Vitava, Waluj in Aurangabad district of Maharashtra. Received environmental clearance.

Contact: Serum Institute of India Ltd., 212/2, Hadapsar, Off. Soli Poonawalla Road, Pune, Maharashtra 411028.

Tel: (020)-26602681 / 26100324.

Fax: 26993921.

Email: serumexports@vsnl.com

Contact: Orchid Chemicals & Pharmaceuticals Ltd., 'Orchid Towers' 313, Valluvar Kottam High Road, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600034.

Tel: (044)-28211000 / 28230000, Fax: 28211002.

Email: corporate@orchidpharma.com

Promoter: Ordain Health Care Global Pvt. Ltd. Cost: 65.00 Industry: Drug Formulations Completion: NA Location: North Goa, Goa

VACCINES

Promoter: Serum Institute of India Ltd. Cost: 1,000.00 Industry: Drug Formulations Completion: NA Location: Pune, Maharashtra

TABLETS & CAPSULES

Ordain Health Care Global plans to set up a tablets and capsules unit with a capacity of 5 crore numbers per year at Panaji in Noth Goa. Work to commence soon.

Contact: Ordain Health Care

Global Pvt. Ltd., Sri Devi Temple Towers, 6 Second Main Road, Near Swimming Pool, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600073. Tel: (044)-71022000, Fax: 71022097

SYNTHETIC ORGANIC CHEMICALS

Promoter: Privi Organics Ltd. Cost: 67.92 Industry: Organic Chemicals Completion: NA Location: Raigarh (MAH), Maharashtra Privi Organics plans to expand synthetic organic chemicals capacity from 1,805.65 tpm to 6,766.99 tpm at MIDC, Mahad taluka in Raigarh district of Maharashtra.

Contact: Privi Organics Ltd., Privi House, A-71, TTC Industrial Area, Thane Belapur Road, Kopar Khairane, Thane, Maharashtra 400709. Tel: (022)-27783040 / 27783041 / 27783045, Fax: 27783049 / 66023636. Email: sales@privi.co.in

Telangana.It Includes 5 MW cogeneration power unit.

Contact: Astrix Laboratories Ltd., Survey No.10 & 42, IDA Gaddapotharam Village, Jinnaram Mandal, Medak, Telangana 502319.

Tel: (08458)-277039

BULK DRUGS

Promoter: Icon Pharma Chem Cost: 50.00 Industry: Bulk Drugs Completion: NA Location: Bharuch, Gujarat Icon Pharma Chem plans to set up a bulk drugs unit with a capacity of 250 tpm at GIDC Dahej, Vagra taluka in Bharuch district of Gujarat.

Received environmental clearance.

Work to commence by April 2015. (more) Contact: Icon Pharma Chem, Plot No.D-2, CH-142, GIDC, Dahej Industrial Area, Ankleshwar, Bharuch, Gujarat 393002.

Tel: (02646)-220395 / 223111

Contact: Aarti Drugs Ltd., Mahendra Industrial Estate, Ground Floor, Road No 29, Plot No 109-D, Sion (East), Mumbai, Maharashtra 400022.

Tel: (022)-24019025.

Email: purchase@aartidrugs.com

CHEMICALS

Promoter: Balaji Amines Ltd. Cost: 50.00 Industry: Chemicals Completion: NA Location: Solapur, Maharashtra Balaji Amines plans to set up a chemicals unit at Chincholi MIDC, Mohol taluka in Solapur district of Maharashtra. Land acquisition underway. Awaiting necessary clearances. Work to commence by October 2015.

Contact: Balaji Amines Ltd., Balaji Tower,No. 9/1A/1,Hotgi Road, Asara Chowk,Solapur, Maharashtra 413224.

Tel: (0217)-2310824/28/22/25, Fax: 2310821.

Email: info@balajiamines.com

BULK DRUGS

Promoter: SMS Pharmaceuticals Ltd. Cost: 30.00 Industry: Bulk Drugs Completion: NA Location: Medak, Telangana

BULK DRUGS

METFORMIN

SMS Pharmaceuticals plans to expand bulk drugs capacity from 4,486 kgs per day to 21,896 kgs per day at Kazipally, Jinnaram mandal in Medak district of Telangana.

Promoter: Astrix Laboratories Ltd. Cost: 60.00 Industry: Bulk Drugs Completion: NA Location: Medak, Telangana

Promoter: Aarti Drugs Ltd. Cost: 56.12 Industry: Bulk Drugs Completion: NA Location: Valsad, Gujarat

Astrix Laboratories plans to expand bulk drugs unit from 38.2 tpm to 70 tpm at Survey No.10 & 42, Gaddapotharam village, Jinnaram mandal in Medak district of

Aarti Drugs plans to set up a metformin unit with a capacity of 1,200 tpm at Sarigam village in Valsad district of Gujarat. Received environmental clearance.

Data source: ProjectsToday

For a free trail access please log on to www.projectstoday.com

Contact: SMS Pharmaceuticals Ltd., Plot No: 19-III, Road No:71, Opp. Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan Public School Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad, Telangana 500034.

Tel: (040)-66288888, Fax: 23551401/ 23551402.

Email: info@smspharma.com

CHEMICAL NEWS DECEMBER 2014 z 53

ECONOMIC REVIEW Compiled by MR. BIPIN JHA, Senior-Executive-Corporate, Excel Industries Ltd.

1 2

According to a report presented by Morgan Stanley, India’s gross domestic product is expected to grow by 6.3 percent in 2015. In yet another report by Paris-based think tank OECD, India’s economy is expected to grow by 6.4% in 2015.

The Centre’s Indirect tax collections at Rs 2,85,126 crore rose by 5.6 per cent during April-October 2014-15 compared to Rs 2,69,909 crore during the corresponding period last year.

Excise collections declined by 1.2 per cent to Rs 88,330 54 z CHEMICAL NEWS DECEMBER 2014

crore from Rs.89,444 crore during April-October 201314. Customs collections increased by 7.5 per cent to Rs 1,06.123 crore from Rs.98.707 crore during April-October 2013-14. Service tax collections increased by 10.9 per cent to Rs 90,673 crore during April-October 2014-15 from Rs.81,758 crore in April-October 2013-14.

3

Government of India signed the Loan Agreement with the World Bank for financing of US$ 200 million for Technology Centre System Programme (TCSP).

200

4

The eight core infrastructure industries growth - crude petroleum, petroleum products, coal, electricity, cement, Natural Gas, Fertilizers and finished steel posted growth of 4% in AprilSeptember 2014 compared to growth of 5% registered during April-September 2013. During April-September 2014, crude oil production posted negative growth of 1.2% as compared to decline of 1.3% in April-September 2013. Petroleum refinery products declined by 2.7% in April-September 2014 as against the increase of 5.1% during April-September 2013. Coal recorded growth of 7.2% compared to growth of 2.2% in April-September 2013. Cement registered growth of 9.7% as compared to growth of 4.5% recorded in April-September 2013.

Electricity witnessed growth of 10% in April-September 2014 compared to growth of 5.8% in April-September 2013. Finished steel recorded growth of 2.3% in AprilSeptember 2014 as compared to growth of 12.9% during the corresponding period in 2013. Natural gas declined by 5.9% in April-September 2014 as compared to decline of 16.5% in April-September 2013. Fertilizers registered nil growth in April-September 2014 compared to 2.5% growth recorded during April-September 2013.

5

Data on Index of Industrial Production (IIP) with the base year 2004-05, released by the CSO show that industrial production increased by 2.5% in September 2014 as compared to 2.7% growth in September 2013. The manufacturing sector, which accounts for about 80% of the weightage in the IIP, increased by 2.5% in September 2014 as compared to increase of 1.4% in September 2013. The mining sector increased by 0.7% in September 2014 as compared to increase of 3.6% in September 2013. The Electricity recorded growth of 3.9% as compared to growth of 12.9% during September 2013. During April-September 2014, industrial production increased by 2.8% as compared to 0.5% growth during April-September 2013.

The manufacturing sector posted growth of 2% in AprilSeptember 2014 as compared to increase of 0.2% in April-September 2013. The mining sector recorded growth of 2.1% in April-September 2014 as compared to decline of 2.5% during April-September 2013. The Electricity achieved growth of 10.4% as compared to growth of 5.9% during April-September 2013.

Industrial Sector

BKJ : 15.11

Index of Industrial Production : General

(Base : 2004-05 = 100)

180

2013-14

2014-15

160

2012-13

140 120

220 200

Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar

Industrial Sector

BKJ : 15.11

Manufacturing : Production Index

(Base : 2004-05 = 100)

180 160

2012-13 2014-15

2013-14

140 120

220 200

Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar

Industrial Sector

BKJ : 15.11

Index of Industrial Production : Electricity

(Base : 2004-05 = 100)

2014-15

2013-14

180 160

2012-13

140 120 100

200 180

Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar

Industrial Sector

BKJ : 15.11

Basic Goods : Production Index

(Base : 2004-05 = 100)

2014-15

2013-14

160 140

2012-13

120 100

Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar

CHEMICAL NEWS DECEMBER 2014 z 55

6

Going by the use-based classification of IIP data, in September 2014, the production of Capital Goods segment of the manufacturing industries increased by 11.6% as compared to decline of 6.6% in September 2013. Intermediate Goods production increased by 1.8% in September 2014 as compared to increase of 4.4% in September 2013. Basic Goods sector posted growth of 5.1% as compared to rise of 6.7% in September 2013. Consumer Durables declined by 11.3% in September 2014 as compared to decline of 10.6% in

410 360 310

Industrial Sector

BKJ : 15.11

Capital Goods : Production Index (Base : 2004-05 = 100)

2014-15

2013-14

2012-13

260 210 160

180

Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar

Industrial Sector

BKJ : 15.11

Intermediate Goods : Production Index (Base : 2004-05 = 100)

2013-14

2014-15 140

100

360 328

2012-13

Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar

Industrial Sector

BKJ : 15.11

Consumer Durables : Prod. Index

(Base : 2004-05 = 100)

7

ACCORDING TO THE INDUSTRYWISE IIP DATA, THE CHEMICAL INDUSTRY DECLINED BY 4.4% IN SEPTEMBER 2014. DURING APRILSEPTEMBER 2014 THE INDUSTRY POSTED NEGATIVE GROWTH OF 0.4% FROM APRIL-SEPTEMBER 2013.

8

On the foreign trade front, India’s exports during October 2014 valued at $26.1 bln. declined by 5% from its level of $27.5 bln. in October 2013. Imports during the month at $39.5 billion increased by 3.6% from its level of $38.1 bln. in October 2013. India’s total exports during April-October 2014-15 valued at $189.8 bln. increased by 4.7% from its level of $181.2 bln. in April-October 2013-14. Imports during the period at $273.6 billion increased by 1.9% from its level of $268.6 bln. in April-October 2013-14. Oil import bill in April-October 2014-15 was lower by 0.5% from 200 180

2012-13

296

September 2013. Consumer Non-durables increased by 1.5% as compared to rise of 12% in September 2013.

During April-September 2014, Capital Goods witnessed growth of 5.8% as compared to decline of 0.6% in April-September 2013. Intermediate Goods production increased by 2.3% in April-September 2014 as compared to growth of 2.7% in April-September 2013. Basic Goods sector witnessed growth of 8% as compared to increase of 1.3% in April-September 2013. Consumer Durables declined by 12.6% in April-September 2014 compared to decline of 11.1% during the corresponding period in 2013.

Consumer Non-durables during April-September 2014 increased by 1.3% as compared to increase of 7.6% during April-September 2013.

160

Industrial Sector

BKJ : 15.11

Consumer Non-durables : Prod. Index (Base : 2004-05 = 100)

2014-15 2013-14

140

264

120

2014-15 232 200

2013-14 Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar

56 z CHEMICAL NEWS DECEMBER 2014

2012-13

100 80

Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar

Industrial Sector BKJ : 15.11 20 18 Chemicals : Production 16 (% change over previous year) 14 2013-14 12 10 8 6 4 2 0 Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar -2 2012-13 -4 2014-15 -6 -8 -10

the level of oil imports in April-October 2013-14. Non-oil imports in April-October 2014-15 were higher by 3.2% from non-oil imports in April-October 2013-14. The trade deficit for April-October 2014-15 was estimated at $83.8 billion, lower than the deficit of $87.3 billion during the corresponding period in 2013-14.

9

India’s foreign exchange reserves declined by $778.4 million to $315.13 billion for the week ended 7 November 2014. The foreign currency assets declined by $726 million to $289.63 billion. The value of gold reserves remained unchanged at $19.73 billion compared to previous week. The value of special drawing rights (SDRs) declined by $8 million to $4.23 billion. India’s reserve position with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) declined by $13.9 million to $1.52 billion.

10

THE TOTAL APPROXIMATE EARNINGS OF INDIAN RAILWAYS DURING APRIL-OCTOBER 2014 AT RS. 86595.04 CRORE REGISTERED AN INCREASE OF 12% COMPARED TO RS. 77273.88 CRORE DURING THE CORRESPONDING PERIOD LAST YEAR.

11

The annual rate of inflation, based on monthly WPI, stood at 1.77% (provisional) for the month of October 2014 (over October 2013) as compared to 2.38% (provisional) for the previous month and 7.24% during the corresponding month of the previous year.

35000

External Sector

2012-13

Exports

BKJ : 15.11

2013-14

2014-15

30000 (Million Dollars) 25000 20000 15000 10000 5000 0

50000 40000

Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar

External Sector 2012-13

Imports

BKJ : 15.11

2013-14

2014-15

(Million Dollars)

30000 20000 10000 0

400

Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar

External Sector Foreign Exchange

2012-13

BKJ : 15.11

2013-14

2014-15

350 (Billion Dollars) 300 250 200 150 100 50 0

Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar

12

ALL INDIA CONSUMER PRICE INDEX NUMBER FOR INDUSTRIAL WORKERS (CPI-IW) ON BASE 2001=100 FOR THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER 2014 REMAINED STATIC AT 253.

CHEMICAL NEWS DECEMBER 2014 z 57

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CHEMICAL NEWS DECEMBER 2014 z 59

NEWS FROM MEMBERS EVONIK - NEW METHIONINE COMPLEX IN SINGAPORE The new methionine complex of Evonik Industries in Singapore officially came on stream on November 4, 2014 after two years in construction. This plant has an annual capacity of 150,000 metric tons, bringing Evonik’s methionine capacity worldwide up to 580,000 metric tons. “With this new facility— the most modern of its kind and the first world-scale methionine plant in Asia—we are continuing to expand our market and technology lead in DL-methionine,” said Klaus Engel.

Evonik markets DL-methionine under the MetAMINO® brand name.

The company has spent over €500 million on the complex, the most it has ever invested in a single chemical project. “Methionine is one of our core businesses and Asia is the fastest-growing methionine market in the world. This is why we decided to build here,” Engel explained. He used the presence of high-ranking leaders from the worlds of politics and business to thank all sides for their outstanding support.

MetAMINO® and all strategically important precursors will be 60 z CHEMICAL NEWS DECEMBER 2014

produced in the new methionine complex. “Thanks to our local presence, our complete backintegration in the new plant, and our global production network for MetAMINO®, we are able to offer our customers in Asia maximum security of supply,” underlined Dr. Reiner Beste, head of Evonik’s Health & Nutrition Business Unit.

Progress in feed technology, rapid population growth and rising consumption of meat in the region are fuelling Asia’s high methionine demand.

The main reasons for choosing Singapore as the site for the new plant in Asia were the excellent local logistics, the business-friendly, stable environment, and the high level of education. The new production complex will create around 200 jobs for highly qualified individuals.

The feed additive MetAMINO® ensures more balanced nutrition of poultry and swine, conserving resources and the environment and thus making a valuable contribution to sustainability in food production.

In addition, Evonik is investing in amino acid specialties with high growth rates. New production plants

for methionine formulations that are tailored to the biology of other animal species are currently under construction: Mobile (Alabama, USA), for instance, will have a new plant for the production of Mepron®, used in the feeding of dairy cattle.

Mepron® has a special coating that protects the amino acid from undesired degradation in the rumen.

For shrimp and other crustaceans in aquacultures, Evonik has developed AQUAVI® Met-Met, a dipeptide made up of two methionine molecules. The first production plant for this is being built in Antwerp, Belgium.

Evonik is the only company in the world that produces and markets the four most important amino acids that are required in advanced animal feed: MetAMINO® (DL-methionine), Mepron® (DL-methionine for ruminants), DL-Methionine for AquacultureTM, Biolys® (L-lysine source), ThreAMINO® (L-threonine), and TrypAMINO® (L-tryptophan).

As a solution provider, the Group also supports its customers with comprehensive professional advice, tailored services, and a worldwide sales organization for all amino acid products.

TATA CHEMICALS’ BABRALA PLANT BAGS NSCI’S ‘SURAKSHA PURASKAR’ AT THE NATIONAL SAFETY AWARDS Tata Chemicals’ Babrala plant in Uttar Pradesh has been awarded the much-coveted ‘Suraksha Puraskar’ in the manufacturing sector category

by The National Safety Council of India. The award was conferred to Tata Chemicals by Shri Narendra Singh Tomar, Hon’ble Union Minister for Mines, Steel, Labour and Employment, for implementing and upholding safety excellence at its Babrala plant.

NSCI awards aim at providing national recognition to manufacturing and construction organisations and micro, small and medium enterprises for their consistent and meritorious operational and safety performance.

‘Suraksha Puraskar’ is awarded for recognising and encouraging factories for developing and implementing effective Occupational Health and Safety Management System and achieving meritorious and sustained performance over a period of three calendar years preceding the awards year.

Speaking on this achievement, VK Bhatia, COO, CNAB, Tata Chemicals, said, “Sustainability and excellence form the core philosophy of Tata Chemicals’ Babrala plant. We are proud of our continued success at The National Safety Council of India as this further strengthens our commitment and dedication towards safety, health and environment (SHE). We give prime importance to SHE initiatives, and such accolades helps us raise the bar every year.”

DK Sundar, senior vice president, marketing & commercial, CNAB, Tata Chemicals, said, “The Babrala plant is truly an example of a world-class plant. This is a proud moment for all of us at the Company, and we will continue to uphold our high safety standards in the future.”

Tata Chemicals has previously

been the recipient of the NSCI award for its performance during the year 2013, and 2004–07, and was also awarded with Sarva Shreshtha Suraksha Puraskar’.

PETROLEUM MINISTER DHARMENDRA PRADHAN LAYS FOUNDATION STONE FOR INDIANOIL’S 3150 CRORE POLY-PROPYLENE PLANT AT PARADIP Union Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas (Independent charge) Mr. Dharmendra Pradhan laid the foundation of Rs.3150 Crore Poly-Propylene Plant at IndianOil’s Paradip Refinery Project complex, Paradip on 16th November,2014.

Cabinet Minister for Co-operation and Excise Odisa and MLA, Paradip Dr. Damodar Rout, Cabinet Minister for Industries, School and Mass Education, Odisha Mr. Debi Prasad Mishra and Member of Parliament,

Jagatsinghpur, Dr. Kulamani Samal were present on the occasion.

Addressing the gathering Mr. Dharmendra Pradhan described the project as a dawn of new era for the industrial development. Emphasising the need for faster pace of Industrial development to realize Prime Minister’s dreams, Shri Pradhan said that this Poly Propylene plant will also pave way for developing Petrochemical Hub in this zone, he added. Polypropylene produced by this unit of IndianOil’s Paradip Refinery will be used in ancillaries to make moulded furniture, packaging material, containers, medical disposables, adhesive tapes etc.

Referring to the future plans in this direction, the Union minister said that IndianOil is also evaluating the feasibility of setting up of Ethylene Derivative Plant at an estimated cost of nearly 4000 crore. This will indeed act as a catalyst in the

B. K. SETHURAM JOINS CELANESE AS MANAGING DIRECTOR AT CELANESE INDIA Celanese Corporation (NYSE: CE), a global technology and specialty materials company, announced that Belur Krishnamurthy Sethuram has joined Celanese as Managing Director for Celanese Chemicals India Pvt Ltd. effective on October 16, 2014.

In this role, Mr. Sethuram will oversee the company’s commercial, government affairs, industry and administrative activities in India.

He will be based in Mumbai.

“With a solid leadership team in India, Celanese will be able to quickly and appropriately respond to industry conditions and customer requirements,” said Mark Oberle, senior vice president, Celanese Asia.

“Additionally, Mr. Sethuram will provide strong support for our employee development activities in country and allow us to get much closer to our customers in key areas and build a solid growth platform for Celanese in India. I’m eager to work with Mr. Sethuram to ensure we are creating value for our customers and for Celanese.”

Mr. Sethuram has 25 years of experience in chemical industry on driving the growth of sales revenue and developing/implementing strategic sales and marketing plans in India and the Asia Pacific Prior to Celanese, Mr. Sethuram worked with Dow Chemical and Rohm and Haas in India and Thailand.

Mr. Sethuram graduated from Sasin School of Business with a Master’s Degree of Business Administration and has a Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from IIT, Madras.

CHEMICAL NEWS DECEMBER 2014 z 61

socio economic development of the country and the state in particular.

This plant will provide products that will facilitate manufacturing of Polyester Chips, Fibers, PET bottles ,PET Chips, Polyester yarn etc.

Earlier, Chairman, IndianOil, Mr. B Ashok outlined the key benefits of the project aligning with the coming up of Paradip Refinery slated to be commissioned this fiscal.

The upcoming, Paradip Refinery is IndianOil’s most prestigious and capital intensive project till date and this will be the 11th refinery of Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. It is configured to contribute enormously to the capacity and profitability of IndianOil and the nation as a whole. Upon its commissioning, the state of Orissa and the entire Eastern Region would get a boost, said Shri Ashok.

IndianOil Director, (Refineries), Mr. Sanjiv Singh welcomed the dignitaries and spoke about IndianOil’s foray in Petrochemicals.

The laying of the foundation stone of the 700 TMTPA Poly-Propylene (PP) Unit marks the first step in the direction of integration and progress.

The consumption of Polypropylene

in India has seen a steady rise in the last decade and the trend is likely to continue with the increased use of plastics in automotive, processing and packaging industries.

With the commissioning of PP Unit, expected to be commissioned in the next three years, a number of plastic processing Industries will also come up in the area, paving way for the development of a petrochemical hub in this zone.

Paradip Refinery will be catering to the energy needs of Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Chattisgarh and West Bengal.

This project truly demonstrates that IndianOil is keenly and aggressively pursuing its business goals of being an integrated energy company. With the commissioning of IndianOil’s 15 MMTPA grassroots refinery at Paradip, IndianOil shall be further augmenting its refining capacity, taking it over 80.0 MMTPA.

HPCL BAGS THE PLATTS TOP 250 GLOBAL ENERGY AWARD HPCL has been adjudged 16th Fastest Growing Energy Company in

Asia, and now ranks 48 in the overall ranking of energy companies in Asia, as per The Platts 2014 Top 250 Global Energy Company Rankings.

These Platts Awards were received

by Director-Finance, of HPCL- Shri K V Rao at the awards ceremony in Singapore recently.

Also, HPCL featured at 39 in the 2014 Fastest Growing Top 250 Energy Companies’ in the Platts Rankings, that showcase world’s fastest-growing energy companies, based on each company’s compound growth rate (CGR) over a 3-year period.

In last three years ranking of HPCL rose steadily, from 212 in 2012 to 177 in 2013 to 153 in 2014, in ‘The Platts Top 250 Companies’ Global List’.

The Platts Top 250 Global Energy Company Rankings recognize outstanding accomplishments of the top performing energy companies around the world. Each company listed in the Platts Top 250 has distinguished itself through its remarkable performance and the outstanding efforts and dedication of its team in the previous year.

RESPONSIBLE CARE LOGO TO ANSHUL SPECIALTY MOLECULES LTD.

Anshul Specialty Molecules Ltd., the member of ICC has been permitted to use the Responsible Care Logo for a period of one year from December 2014 to NOVEMBER 2015. Mr. S. R. Lohokare, Chairman-Technology & Energy Expert 62 z CHEMICAL NEWS DECEMBER 2014

Committee of ICC presented the replica of the RC Logo to Mr. Ravi Shroff, Director and his colleagues during the Refresher Course on SEPARATION PROCESSES organized by ICC on 22 November 2014 in Mumbai.

INDIANOIL CONFERRED SCOPE MERITORIOUS AWARD FOR CSR AND RESPONSIVENESS BY THE HON’BLE PRESIDENT OF INDIA IndianOil has been conferred with the Standing Conference of Public Enterprises (SCOPE) Meritorious Gold Award 2012-13 for Corporate Social Responsibility and Responsiveness by the Hon’ble President of India, Mr. Pranab Mukherjee, at a ceremony held at the Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi today. The award function was organised jointly by SCOPE, the apex body of PSEs and Department of Public Enterprises, Government of India. On behalf of IndianOil, Mr. B. Ashok, Chairman and Mr. V.S. Okhde, Director (Pipelines), IndianOil received the award.

IndianOil has been felicitated with the award for various initiatives undertaken towards Corporate Social Responsibility which include primary mobile health care scheme titled ‘IndianOil Sachal Swasthya Seva’ for operating Mobile Medical Units linked to rural petrol pumps called Kisan Seva Kendras of IndianOil, providing clean drinking water to schools and communities, various educational scholarship schemes, various community development initiatives, initiatives towards protecting and developing tourist facilities at Heritage sites, programmes run by Assam Oil School of Nursing, AOD Industrial Training Centre etc. All the CSR activities of IndianOil revolve around the Vision and Mission statement of IndianOil Care, Innovation, Passion, Trust.

H.E., Hon’ble President, speaking on the occasion lauded the efforts made by the public sector enterprises and said CPSEs are custodians of public wealth and they need to ensure continued compliance with the best standards of corporate governance and transparency. India today stands at the cusp of a transformative phase which will successfully place India in

HUNTSMAN INAUGURATES NEW INDIA SUBCONTINENT HEADQUARTERS IN MUMBAI Huntsman Corporation, the parent body of Huntsman International India Pvt. Ltd. (ICC Member) recently inaugurated its new India corporate office, in Andheri, Mumbai. The 220,000 square feet, seven story building will initially house some 300 Huntsman associates, including over 100 technical staff spread across three floors of state-of-the-art laboratory and research facilities.

The ceremony was led by Peter R. Huntsman, President and Chief Executive of the Huntsman Corporation, and was attended by Huntsman officers, associates, customers, suppliers and other key stakeholders.

Commenting on the importance of the new headquarters to Huntsman’s ambitions in the Indian subcontinent, Peter R. Huntsman said “This opening is an important milestone in our continued growth and commitment to the Indian market. Our family and employees have been building a business in the Indian subcontinent for over 25 years and today enjoy a strong, profitable and growing organization in excess of $500 million. Our continued success will depend on the quality and creativity of our local associates and this site will enable better technical, customer service, and development opportunities going forward. Many of our products and innovations are unique to the subcontinent’s needs. We look forward to seeing continued growth as this market expands.”

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT, STEVE STILLIARD, VP & MD, HUNTSMAN INTERNATIONAL INDIA; PAUL HULME, SENIOR CORPORATE OFFICER, HUNTSMAN INDIA SUBCONTINENT; RAKESH BHARTIA, PRESIDENT, INDIAN CHEMICALS COUNCIL; NADIR GODREJ, CHAIRMAN, CII NATIONAL COMMITTEE ON CHEMICALS; MR. PETER HUNTSMAN, PRESIDENT & CEO, HUNTSMAN CORPORATION.

Paul Hulme, Huntsman Senior Corporate Officer for the region, said “We are looking forward to welcoming customers, suppliers and other business partners to the new premises. I am confident that the investment we have made in facilities and people will stand us in good stead for many years as we continue to develop strong strategic partnerships with our customers and continue to grow our business across all five of Huntsman’s business divisions.”

Huntsman has sales of approximately $500 million in the subcontinent, and has more than 1,000 associates based in the region. It has manufacturing facilities in Baroda and Ankleshwar in Gujarat, manufacturing textile chemicals and dyes and surfactants, and in Pune, manufacturing polyurethane systems.

CHEMICAL NEWS DECEMBER 2014 z 63

the league of developed nations over the next two decades. The Hon’ble President mentioned that in the last ten years itself, India has scripted a wonderful success story emerging as one of the leading economies of the world and the third largest economy in terms of purchasing power parity and the CPSEs have played an extremely important role in boosting the Indian Economy.

“IndianOil is proud to receive the SCOPE Meritorious Gold award for CSR and Responsiveness from the Hon’ble President of India. IndianOil is an essential organ of the society and is aware of its responsibilities beyond financial considerations towards improving quality of life of the communities it serves. It is not only the various structured CSR programmes through which IndianOil serves the society. During national emergencies, calamities, IndianOil has stood shoulder to shoulder with mitigation agencies for restoring normalcy in the affected areas. Receiving this award brings in greater responsibility on us and we would continue to serve India in all our capacities” said B. Ashok, Chairman, IndianOil Mr. Anant Geete, Union Minister of Heavy Industries & Public Enterprise (HI&PE), Mr. P. Radhakrishnan, MoS for HI&PE, Mr. K.D. Tripathi, Secretary, DPE, Mr. C.S. Verma, Chairman, SCOPE & Chairman, SAIL and Dr. U.D. Choubey, DG, SCOPE along with a host of senior executives from various Public Sector companies were present at the Award Ceremony.

IndianOil is India’s Flagship Energy Major and a ‘Maharatna’ Company. Its business straddles 64 z CHEMICAL NEWS DECEMBER 2014

across the entire hydrocarbon value chain - from refining, pipeline transportation and marketing of petroleum products to exploration & production of crude oil & gas, marketing of natural gas and petrochemicals. IndianOil has been meeting nation’s energy demands for over half a century. With a corporate vision to be the Energy of India, IndianOil closed the year 2013-14 with the income from operations at Rs. 4,73,210 crore and a net profit of Rs. 7,019 crore.

SCOPE is an apex organisation of Public Sector Enterprises (PSEs). In its pursuit to promote excellence and competitiveness of public enterprises, it regularly recognises performance in various categories. SCOPE instituted SCOPE Meritorious Awards to recognise significant achievement of member enterprises in various fields leading to business excellence and competitive advantage; to encourage and motivate companies to achieve higher goals of excellence; and to reward those enterprises which have demonstrated extraordinary skills and have made a mark in chosen fields which have been primarily responsible for growth of the enterprise.

ATUL LIMITED AWARDS ENGINEERING AND LUMPSUM SUPPLY SERVICES CONTRACT TO THYSSENKRUPP INDUSTRIAL SOLUTIONS (INDIA) Atul Limited, a major basic chemicals and derivatives manufacturer in Western India, has selected ThyssenKrupp Industrial Solutions

(India) – formerly Uhde India - to render Engineering, Lumpsum Supply of Cell Elements and Site Supervision Services for their Caustic Soda Conversion project at Valsad in Gujarat. The project envisages the conversion of Atul Limited’s existing Mercury Cell Caustic Soda facility at Atul near Valsad, Gujarat and to setup a 75 tpd Membrane Cell facility.

The capacity of the plant will be expandable to 100 tpd.

The scope of services includes Basic / Detailed Engineering, Project Management Services & Procurement Services, Inspection & Expediting Services for Critical items, Supply of Imported Proprietary Membrane Cell Elements and Site supervision services during Start-up & Commissioning.

The project will utilize the new generation Membrane Cell elements / technology that are well proven in India and internationally and widely sought out by Caustic Soda manufacturers due to their low energy consumption, longevity, environmental and low capex/ opex considerations. ThyssenKrupp Industrial Solutions (India), which has earned a share of nearly 75% of the domestic membrane cell market, is amongst India’s leading EPC Companies for Caustic Soda-Chlorine plants, offering a comprehensive single-point solution for India’s Caustic Soda manufacturers.

PRAJ INDUSTRIES BAGS RS 235 CR ORDER FROM PETROBRAS Praj Industries has won a Rs. 235 crore order for Oil & Gas Process Skids for Petrobras project in Brazil.

Commenting on the occasion, Pramod Chaudhari, Executive Chairman, Praj Industries said, ‘’This is a very prestigious order for Praj and the emerging business of Critical process equipment & systems (CPES). It opens the door

for Praj’s CPES business in the Latin America for past two decades where it enjoys a significant market share.

Our investments into the additional manufacturing facilities at Kandla are bearing fruits. Praj is also getting establishes as a key player for process equipment & systems in the hydrocarbons sector. This will mark beginning of our contribution to the ‘Make in India’ initiative.’’

QGIT, the main contractor for the Petrobras project in Brazil has awarded the order for skids to Praj.

In this project, Praj will provide detailed engineering, procurement, manufacturing of skids alongwith all related equipment. The weight of individual skids range from 50 to 150 tons. Some of the units will be large, multi-storied skids.

The company will manufacture these process skids as per ASME and Braizilian code requirements at its SEZ, Kandla units in Gujarat, India.

DR REDDY’S LAUNCHES OTC FEXOFENADINE TABS IN US The company’s fexofenadine hydrochloride and pseudoephedrine hydrochloride extended release tablets 60 mg / 120 mg is available in a 20 count blister Dr Reddy’s Laboratories has launched its over-the-counter (OTC) fexofenadine hydrochloride and pseudoephedrine hydrochloride extended release tablets 60 mg / 120 mg - a bioequivalent generic version of Allegra-D 12 Hour Allergy & Congestion - in the US market on November 18, 2014. Dr Reddy’s ANDA is approved by the US Food & Drug Administration (USFDA).

The Allegra-D 12 Hour brand has US sales of approximately $ 49.8 million for the latest 52 weeks ending October 6, 2014 for total US multi outlet, according to IRI. Dr Reddy’s fexofenadine hydrochloride and pseudoephedrine hydrochloride extended release tablets 60 mg / 120 mg is available in a 20 count blister.

RCF AND BPCL TIE UP FOR WATER RECYCLING PROJECT IN MUMBAI Two companies will set up a sewage treatment plant to treat 22.75 MLD of sewage to produce about 15 MLD of treated water, which will be used

by RCF and BPCL

Union Minister for Chemicals & Fertilizers Shri Ananth Kumar laid the foundation stone of RCF - BPCL Sewage Treatment Plant on 14-11-2014 in presence of Chief Minister of Maharashtra Shri Devendra Fadnavis, Secretary (Fertilizers) Shri Jugal Kishore Mohapatra, IAS, Shri Rajiv Yadav, IAS, SS & FA, Shri R. G. Rajan, Chairman & Managing Director, RCF & other dignitaries of RCF & BPCL. While addressing the gathering, Hon’ble Union Minister Shri Ananth Kumar said that special priority will be given for Thal III Project in Maharashtra including granting of Navratna status to RCF. Hon’ble Chief Minister Shri Devendra Fadnavis assured the active participation of Government of Maharashtra in welfare schemes for farming community being activities taken up by RCF. RCF-BPCL STP Plant is a sustainability development project as it will treat waste sewage generated in the city and convert it in to treated water adopting latest technology having designed capacity to treat 22.75 Million ltr. per day of municipal sewage. This will produce 15 Million liters per day treated water for the use. This project is first of its kind being set up by two PSUs located nearby. The estimated cost of project is 200 crores. This project will be completed within 28 months from the award of contract. RCF is already operating one STP Plant of similar capacity for last 15 years and new STP Plant will double the generation of treated water from sewage.

CHEMICAL NEWS DECEMBER 2014 z 65

66 z CHEMICAL NEWS DECEMBER 2014

With Best Compliments From

EAST INDIA PHARMACEUTICAL WORKS LIMITED 6, Little Russell Street Kolkata - 700 071

Tel.: 2287 2262 / 2287 3004 / 2287 3007 2287 3009 / 2287 3041 / 2283 0709 Fax: 91-33-2287 3852 / 2287 4289 E-mail: eipwl@cal.vsnl.net.in Website: www.eastindiapharma.org

CHEMICAL NEWS DECEMBER 2014 z 67

NEWS NATIONAL MEGHMANI FINECHEM TO SET UP CAUSTIC POTASH PLANT IN DAHEJ, GUJARAT The company will built 60 metric tonnes per day caustic potash plant with an investment of Rs 65 crores Meghmani Finechem Limited (MFL), a subsidiary of Meghmani Organics Limited (MOL), is planning to set upcaustic potash (commonly known as potassium hydroxide) plant of 60 metric tonnes (mt) per day at its existing manufacturing facility situated at Dahej, Bharuch (Gujarat) with an investment of Rs 65 crores. The plant is expected to commence commercial production

by September, 2015.

“MFL has completed its capacity expansion to increase the manufacturing capacity of caustic chlorine from 340 tonne per day (TDP) to 476 TPD in January 2014 68 z CHEMICAL NEWS DECEMBER 2014

and raised captive power plant capacity from 40 MW to 60 MW in July 2014. To leverage these strengthens, Meghmani Finechem has identified to set up caustic potash plant of 60 mt per day,” said MFL in a press release.

MFL will use the latest fourth generation membrane cell technology from Asahi Kasei Chemicals Corporation, Japan, for the construction of the new caustic potash plant.

Meghmani Finechem will earn revenue of Rs 130 crore and profit before tax of Rs 17 crore, in full financial operation of financial year 2016-17.

The largest users of caustic potash are soap, detergent, fertiliser and chemicals industries.

It is also used in molten salt, dyes, pharmaceuticals and photography sectors.

FINOLEX TO EXPAND CAPACITY WITH RS 90-CR INVESTMENT The PVC product manufacturer plans to venture into water business Finolex Industries, the manufacturer of poly vinyl chloride (PVC) pipe, plans to raise the manufacturing capacity of thePVC pipes and fittings plants to foray into water business.

The Pune-based company will invest Rs 90 crore over the three years for increasing the capacity by 40% to 3,20,000 tonnes to cater to the water supply and water equipmentmarket.

Prakash Chhabria, Executive Chairman of Finolex Industries, said, “We are firming up plans to enter the water business. We are talking to a couple of consultants and a final plan would be formalised in 12-18 months. As an organisation we are

keen on ensuring that the available water should reach the end user in the most efficient manner. We consider it our primary responsibility to ensure that the pipeline not only brings life into his crop but also brings him prosperity.’

Finolex is planning to launch new technology products related to water.

The company is spending over Rs 16 crore for this venture.

While the PVC resins business currently accounts for about one third of the turnover, the share of the pipes business is expected to grow year on year. At present, the company has three manufacturing plants - in Pune and Ratnagiri in Maharashtra and Masar, near Vadodara, in Gujarat - with the total capacity of 2,06,000 tonnes.

Its non-pipe business will touch Rs 1,500 crore in the next two years.

Finolex’s agri and non-agri business ratio is 70:30 which will remain same in the future. The company which clocked a turnover of Rs 2,453 crore in 2013-14 is expecting to grow at a CAGR of 15 to 20 per cent over the next five years, which will see its turnover cross $ 1 billion.

GOVERNMENT TO AUCTION 70 DISCOVERED HYDROCARBON BLOCKS In an attempt to rekindle waning interest in India’s hydrocarbon sector, the government plans to auction around 70 blocks owned by public sector explorers such as Oil and Natural Gas Corp. Ltd (ONGC) and Oil India Ltd (OIL).

These so-called marginal fields were awarded to the state-owned firms on a nomination basis but remained undeveloped because they lie in tough terrain or had low reserves.

They are currently being identified by the firms. “The petroleum ministry has asked ONGC and OIL to draw up a list of the blocks,” said a person aware of the development, requesting anonymity. Sixty of these blocks belong to ONGC and the rest to OIL. The planned auction, reported

by Mint on 14 August, comes at a time when the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government is also working on offering exploration blocks under the tenth round of the New Exploration Licensing Policy (Nelp).

The government is also debating the incentive regime for hydrocarbon exploration, swinging between two contentious options—the existing cost-recovery model and the alternative revenue-sharing model.

Petroleum minister Dharmendra Pradhan confirmed the government plan, first proposed by the oil ministry in 2009. “We have asked Oil India and ONGC and a consultancy to evolve a transparent practice for bidding out these blocks,” he said in an interview. “No one should allege tomorrow that we picked and chose (their allocation). It should be investment-friendly, have a profit-making agenda... Through transparent bid mechanism, ownership will be provided to the company providing technology. It should have an incentive to make investments.” India approved Nelp in 1997—it took effect in January 1999—to boost hydrocarbon

exploration. Under Nelp, the government allocates rights to explore hydrocarbon blocks through a bidding process and has done so in nine phases so far for 360 blocks, involving an investment of around $21.3 billion. “Nelp-10 is for the new areas. These are for those blocks where discoveries have been made.

For a company the size of ONGC, it is not viable. A small company may find it viable,” Pradhan added.

While the government has revised the current price of natural gas to $5.6 per million British thermal unit (mmBtu) from $4.2 mmBtu, investor interest in the Indian hydrocarbon sector is dipping, with around 70% of basins remaining largely underexplored. The response to Nelp, too, has been tepid. A senior ONGC executive requesting anonymity confirmed the development and said, “These are small discoveries and the process of identification of the blocks to be auctioned is on.”

A senior executive at OIL who also didn’t want to be identified said, “We may be surrendering some blocks.”

Queries emailed to spokespersons of ONGC and OIL on Monday remained unanswered. The government’s plan

INDIA, RUSSIA TO FORM WORKING GROUP TO BOOST CHEMICAL TRADE A Joint Working Group will be formed within a week comprising representatives of all three streams of his ministry, namely, Department of Fertilizers, Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals and Department of Pharmaceuticals and representatives of Republic of Tatarstan (a subject of the Russian Federation), Ananth Kumar, Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilizers, said after meeting a Russian delegation led by Rustam Minnikhanov in New Delhi.

The Joint Working Group will cull out issues concerning promotion of trade, strengthening of bilateral relations and exploring possibilities for training and research work for the personnel working in this field.

Earlier welcoming the delegation, Kumar said that it is a very meaningful visit and will pave a way for strengthening trade relations in respect of fertilizers, chemicals and pharmaceuticals between India and Republic of Tatarstan.

India looks forward to long-term agreement for import of potash, phosphate and natural gas of which Russia has huge reserves. India has set up a couple of joint ventures in various countries for sourcing finished fertilizers as well as raw materials. A couple of joint venture projects for setting up urea-ammonia plants and raw materials are planned, the Minister added.

CHEMICAL NEWS DECEMBER 2014 z 69

to kick-start hydrocarbon exploration stems from broader concerns that India’s energy import bill of around $150 billion is expected to balloon to $300 billion by 2030. State-run oil marketing firms bore an underrecovery of Rs.1.4 trillion last fiscal as they sold fuel below cost of production. The 2014-15 budget estimated India’s subsidy bill at Rs.2.6 trillion, or 2.03% of gross domestic product, with oil subsidies amounting to Rs.63,500 crore.

The under-recoveries for the first quarter of fiscal 2015 has been Rs.51,110 crore. Analysts welcomed the auction plan. “In the mid-1990s, the government got a resounding response to its bids for development of medium- and small-sized fields— and got the investment and attention of international explorers. Now, to kick-start the investment cycle once again, the government should actively consider placing the blocks lying undeveloped for collaborative development,” said Gokul Chaudhri, a partner at BMR Advisors, a consulting firm. “You would not want just the larger companies for operating over here. You would want all kinds of players to make the industry really active enough. It has to become a much more broader industry, a much more deeper industry,” said Vikash Kumar Jain, an investment analyst at investment and brokerage firm CLSA India Ltd. “You can’t have a very selective environment for only very large companies in the deep water areas,” Jain added.

CII HIGHER EDUCATION SUMMIT EMPHASIZES NEED TO ATTRACT MORE HIGH CALIBER STUDENTS IN RESEARCH The Confederation of Indian Industry issued the following news release: Despite various incentives offered by the government to the private sector to increase investment in Research & Development (R&D), there continues to be a dearth of 70 z CHEMICAL NEWS DECEMBER 2014

high quality students in research.

One of the key factors leading to the trend is the isolated approach taken by industry and academic institutions towards research, said Prof. R. K. Shevgaonkar, Director, IIT Delhi at a panel discussion on research partnerships between industry and institutes on the occasion of the 4th AICTE-CII University-Industry Congress at Knowledgexpo which came to an end in Greater Noida on Friday.

Elaborating on the need for active research partnerships between industry and institutes, Mr. Ramesh Datla, Chairman, CII National Committee on Intellectual Property & Chairman & MD, Elico Limited said that research, especially in fields like instrumentation, call for coming together of students from multiple disciplines of science and engineering, which is not possible without absolute support from the academia. He further discussed a model wherein, they had commissioned students to conduct research in the field of instrumentation and were also paying them salaries to do the same, under the guidance of the respective university professors. Such models work as a great inspiration for students and encourage targeted research.

Dr. Yuko Yasunaga, Deputy Director-General for Industrial Science and Technical Regulations, Standards and Conformity

Assessment Policy, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), Japan, also shared best practices of industry and academic partnerships, which were yielding innovating models through continued research and development.

Highlighting certain key aspects limiting the scope of industry and institute partnership, Dr. Sanak Mishra, Vice-President, Indian National Academy of Engineering, pointed out that industry and institutes thrived on different models. While industry based itself on a definite business model, institutes thrived on the zeal of generating knowledge. Given the divergent interests, it is important to define the model and mechanism of partnerships to not just conduct research but also to drive innovation.

Prof. T. Srinivasa Rao, Director, NIT Warangal further added that provisions in the curriculum need to be revisited in addition to greater industry participation must be encouraged to nurture engineering graduates who are critical thinkers, IT and Media literates, innovators, collaborators and problem solvers.

The panel also included Dr. Subhendu Bhadraray, Principal Scientist & Head, Centre for Agri Solutions, Tata Chemicals Limited who suggested that there was a need to revisit the very perception of research at the industry and institute level to make sustainable research ecosystems.

Speaking on the subject, Prof Shevgaonkar stressed that industry and academia were complimentary to each other and without participation of either the loop of a growth economy was incomplete.

Shedding light on a prospective path of collaboration, he said that both entities must jointly work together on research projects to understand each other’s challenges and benefit from mutual strengths to identify prudent research topics.

They must also formulate joint

PhD programs. He further added that students must be incentivised to pursue PhD, which if coupled with job security can result into a new crop of innovators working on creative models designed to support the needs of the industry and the society, at large. The aim is to carry research which is commissioned for the industry and is supported by the industry.

Elaborating on the need for active research partnerships between industry and institutes, Mr. Ramesh Datla, Chairman, CII National Committee on Intellectual Property & Chairman & MD, Elico Limited said that research, especially in fields like instrumentation, call for coming together of students from

multiple disciplines of science and engineering, which is not possible without absolute support from the academia. He further discussed a model wherein, they had commissioned students to conduct research in the field of instrumentation and were also paying them salaries to do the same, under the guidance of the respective university professors. Such models work as a great inspiration for students and encourage targeted research.

Dr. Yuko Yasunaga, Deputy Director-General for Industrial Science and Technical Regulations, Standards and Conformity Assessment Policy, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), Japan, also shared best practices of industry and academic partnerships, which were yielding innovating models through continued research and development.

Highlighting certain key aspects limiting the scope of industry and institute partnership, Dr. Sanak Mishra, Vice-President, Indian National Academy of Engineering, pointed out that industry and institutes thrived on different models. While industry based itself on a definite business model, institutes thrived on the zeal of generating knowledge. Given the divergent interests, it is important to define the model and mechanism of partnerships to not just conduct research but also to drive innovation.

Prof. T. Srinivasa Rao, Director, NIT Warangal further added that provisions in the curriculum need to be revisited in addition to greater industry participation must be encouraged to nurture engineering graduates who are critical thinkers, IT and Media literates, innovators,

APAR INDUSTRIES TO SET UP SPECIALTY OILS PLANT IN UAE The plant will have facilities to store, blend and process a wide range of speciality oils and lubricants for the power, cosmetics, industrial and automotive verticals Apar Industries Ltd - the provider of products and services for power transmission conductors, petroleum specialities and power cables sectors – is constructing a specialty oils and lubricants plant in the Gulf region. Apar Industries has informed BSE that Singapore-based Petroleum Specialities Pte Ltd, its wholly owned subsidiary, is in the process of setting up a facility in United Arab Emirates (UAE) for the manufacture of a comprehensive range of speciality oils and lubricants. The plant will have facilities to store, blend and process a wide range of speciality oils and lubricants for the power, cosmetics, industrial and automotive verticals.

Apar’s specialty oils business has a production capacity of over 3,50,000 tonnes per annum between its two manufacturing facilities located at Rabale (Navi Mumbai) and Silvassa. The specialty oil business has a wide range of products which falls under five major categories - transformer oils, white oils & liquid paraffins, industrial & automotive oils and lubricants, rubber process oils and ink oils. Apar Industries claims to be the fourth largest manufacturer and marketer of transformer oils globally.

CHEMICAL NEWS DECEMBER 2014 z 71

collaborators and problem solvers.

The panel also included Dr. Subhendu Bhadraray, Principal Scientist & Head, Centre for Agri Solutions, Tata Chemicals Limited who suggested that there was a need to revisit the very perception of research at the industry and institute level to make sustainable research ecosystems.

The panel discussion was attended by a host of representatives from industry, industry bodies and renowned institutions.

Panel on manufacturing in petroleum sector to work out incentives for industry The petroleum ministry’s committee on boosting local manufacturing in the oil and gas sector will work out suitable incentives for the industry, after identifying reasons for low investment levels. The move is part of the “Make in India” campaign, launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The committee, headed by the ministry’s Additional Secretary Rajive Kumar, “will assess reasons for relatively lower levels of investment in the manufacturing sector in oil and gas industry, compulsions for imports and market potential for fabricated materials,” the ministry said in its communication to the panel members, including representatives from the commerce ministry, oil PSUs and private industry.

The committee will review the current status of infrastructure, related policies, skills and raw material requirement apart from the steps taken by other countries to promote local manufacturing.

“It will identify incentives required, if any, to attract manufacturing companies to India, streamline regulatory requirements for setting up manufacturing business in India,” the ministry said.

The committee has been allowed to consult “whoever they may require” and submit its final report within four months. Ironically, the 72 z CHEMICAL NEWS DECEMBER 2014

move comes a month after the ministry abolished a three decadeold policy to provide a 10 per cent price preference to domestic firms over foreign companies in bidding for equipment and service contracts invited by oil companies arguing the policy was no more needed as domestic firms should be able to compete with their foreign peers.

PCPIR PROJECT TO PROVIDE 5.71 LAKH JOBS BY 2031 The proposed VisakhapatnamKakinada Petrochemicals and Petroleum Investment Region will provide 5.71 lakh jobs in industries by the year 2031.

The region will attract investments of more than Rs 3 lakh crore, says Environment Protection, Training and Research Institute in its Environment Assessment Impact Study (EAIS) on PCPIR. Public Hearing on the PCPIR, which covers Visakhapatnam and East Godavari districts, will be held at Nakkapalli in Visakhapatnam on December 18.

“In East Godavari district, the date and the venue of the public hearing is yet to be decided,” said AP Pollution Control Board officials.

However, the project reports are kept at all panchayat and zilla parishad offices in Kakinada. The zilla parishad chief executive officer

in-charge D. Markanedeyulu said people can read the project report in the office.

According to the report, the project will be taken up on 64,000 hectares spanning a length of 640 sq.kms and identified 97 villages as project victim areas.

The report says that the area is suitable for establishing industries like oil refineries and others. There is no danger of marine pollution or any other pollution due to the petrochemicals industries proposed in the PCPIR since effluent treatment plants and Common Treatment Plants will be set up.

However, noted environmentalist T. Pathanjali Sastry of Rajahmundry said they are skeptical about the proposed treatment plants and antipollution measures.

He says there is no enforcement mechanism in the country and the Pollution Control Boards don’t have enough muscle to implement the provisions.

He felt that the industry will not adhere to the pollution control norms and the PCPIR will lead to an environment upheaval in the coastal belt from Kakinada to Visakhapatnam.

Both fisheries and agriculture sectors are at risk if there is large scale displacement in these two vital sectors. z

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AARTI INDUSTRIES LTD. ADITYA BIRLA CHEMICALS INDIA LTD. ADITYA BULK CARRIERS AKZO NOBEL CHEMICALS (I) LTD. ALKYL AMINES CHEMICALS LTD. AMINES & PLASTICIZERS LTD. ANSHUL SPECIALTY MOLECULES LTD. APCOTEX INDUSTRIES LTD. ARCL ORGANICS LTD. ASCU ARCH TIMBER PROTECTION LTD. ASG BIOCHEM PVT. LTD. ASHOK CHEM-PHARMA INTERNATIONAL LTD. ASIAN PEROXIDES LTD. ASTEC LIFESCIENCES LTD. ATUL LIMITED AUCHTEL PRODUCTS LTD. BASF INDIA LTD. BAYER CROP SCIENCE LTD. BENGAL CHEMICALS & PHARM. LTD. BHARAT PETROLEUM CORPORATION LTD. BHARUCH ENVIRO INFRASTRUCTURE LTD. BILAG INDUSTRIES LTD. BRENTAG INGREDIENTS (INDIA) PVT. LTD. CENTURY RAYON CETEX PETROCHEMICALS CHEMPLAST SANMAR LTD. CHEMSTAR ORGANICS (INDIA) LTD. CHEMTURA CHEMICALS INDIA PVT. LTD. CLARIANT CHEMICALS (INDIA) LTD. COLOURTEX INDUSTRIES PVT. LTD. CONNELL BROS CO. (I) PVT. LTD. COROMANDEL INTERNATIONAL LTD. CRL TERMINALS PVT. LTD. DAI-ICHI KARKARIA LTD. DCM SHRIRAM CONSOLIDATED LTD. DECCAN FINE CHEMICALS INDIA PVT. LTD. DEEPAK FERT. & PETROCHEMICALS CORPN. LTD. DEEPAK NITRITE LTD. DHARAMSI MORARJI CHEMICAL CO. LTD., THE DIAMINES & CHEMICALS LTD. DIC INDIA LTD. DISHMAN PHARMACEUTICALS & CHEMICALS LTD. DORF KETAL CHEMICALS (I) PVT LTD. DORF KETAL SPECIALITY CATALYST (P) LTD. DOW AGROSCIENCES INDIA PVT. LTD. (Lote Parshuram Unit) DOW CHEMICAL INTERNATIONAL PVT. LTD. (Kalwa Unit) EAST INDIA PHARMACEUTICAL WORKS LTD. E. I. DUPONT INDIA PVT. LTD. ELANTAS BECK INDIA LTD. ESSAR OIL LIMITED EXCEL INDUSTRIES LTD. GALAXY SURFACTANTS LTD. GANESH POLYCHEM LTD. GE BETZ INDIA PVT. LTD. GHCL LIMITED GODAVARI BIOREFINERIES LTD. GODREJ INDUSTRIES LTD. GRASIM INDUSTRIES LTD. GUJARAT ALKALIES & CHEMICALS LTD. GUJARAT ORGANICS LTD.

61. GUJARAT STATE FERT. & CHEM. LTD. 62. GULBRANDSEN CHEMICALS PVT. LTD. 63. GULBRANDSEN TECHNOLOGIES (INDIA) PVT. LTD. 64. HALDIA PETROCHEMICALS LTD. 65. HEUBACH COLOUR PVT. LTD. 66. HIKAL LIMITED 67. HINDUSTAN INSECTICIDES LTD. 68. HINDUSTAN ORGANIC CHEMICALS LTD. 69. HUNTSMAN INTERNATIONAL (I) PVT. LTD. 70. INDIA GLYCOLS LTD. 71. INDIAN ADDITIVES LTD. 72. INDIAN OIL CORPORATION LTD. 73. INDOFIL INDUSTRIES LTD. 74. INDUSTRIAL SOLVENTS & CHEM. PVT. LTD. 75. INSILCO LTD. 76. IOL CHEMICALS & PHARMACEUTICALS LTD. 77. JAYSHREE CHEMICALS LTD. 78. JUBILANT LIFE SCIENCES LTD. 79. K.V. FIRE CHEMICALS (I) PVT. LTD. 80. KANSAI NEROLAC PAINTS LTD. 81. LANXESS INDIA PVT. LTD. 82. LAXMI ORGANIC INDUSTRIES LTD. 83. LUBRIZOL INDIA LTD. 84. MCC PTA INDIA CORP. PVT. LTD. 85. NAGARJUNA FERTILIZERS AND CHEMICALS LTD. 86. NATIONAL PEROXIDE LTD. 87. NAVDEEP CHEMICALS PVT. LTD. 88. NAVIN FLUORINE INTERNATIONAL LTD. 89. NLC NALCO (INDIA) LTD. 90. PI INDUSTRIES LIMITED 91. RALLIS INDIA LTD. 92. RASHTRIYA CHEMICALS & FERTILIZERS LTD. 93. RELIANCE INDUSTRIES LTD. 94. RISHI KIRAN LOGISTICS PVT. LTD. 95. ROHM AND HAAS INDIA PVT. LTD. (Taloja Unit) 96. S I GROUP – INDIA LTD. 97. SAJJAN INDIA LTD. 98. SAVIORAY PETROCHEMICALS LTD. 99. SHASUN CHEMICALS & DRUGS LTD. 100. SOLARIS CHEMTECH INDUSTRIES LTD. 101. SOLVAY SPECIALITIES INDIA (PVT.) LTD. 102. SOUTHERN PETROCHEM INDS. CORPN. LTD. 103. SRF LIMITED 104. STP LIMITED 105. STYROLUTION ABS (INDIA) LTD. 106. STYROLUTION INDIA PVT. LTD. 107. SUDARSHAN CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES LTD. 108. SUD-CHEMIE INDIA PVT. LTD. 109. SUPARNA CHEMICALS LTD. 110. SUPREME PETROCHEM LTD. 111. TAGROS CHEMICALS INDIA LTD. 112. TANFAC INDUSTRIES LTD. 113. TATA CHEMICALS LTD. 114. THIRUMALAI CHEMICALS LTD. 115. TRANSPEK INDUSTRY LTD. 116. TRANSPEK SILOX INDUSTRY LTD. 117. TUTICORIN ALKALI CHEMICALS & FERT. LTD. 118. UNITED PHOSPHORUS LTD. 119. VADODARA ENVIRO CHANNEL LTD. 120. WACKER METROARK CHEMICALS LTD. Updated as on 14 November 2014 CHEMICAL NEWS DECEMBER 2014 z 73

NEWS INTERNATIONAL

NEPIC BOSS WINS MAJOR TITLE DR. STAN HIGGINS IS “EUROPEAN CLUSTER MANAGER OF THE YEAR 2014” On the occasion of the European Cluster Conference 2014, Dr Stan Higgins, Chief Executive of the North East Process Industry Cluster (NEPIC), was elected ‘European Cluster Manager of the Year 2014’.

The Award honors cluster managers in Europe for outstanding success stories and was open to every cluster manager in Europe to apply.

Dr. Stan was one of three nominated candidates who got the opportunity to present themselves and their work to 350 participants of the Conference who afterwards elected the winner.

Following his presentation of NEPICs achievements as a cluster, was unanimously voted as EU Cluster manager of the year 2014 - an office he will hold for two years.

Dr. Stan, a runner up in 2010 competition, said: “I am so immensely proud of the work of 74 z CHEMICAL NEWS DECEMBER 2014

the 22-strong NEPIC team. Unlike the majority of cluster bodies across the EU we get zero financial support of cluster management from the UK Government so to win of this prestigious international award says a huge amount about the way NEPIC is perceived internationally.

“This award reflects hugely on

the support NEPIC get from industry locally and from our international partners. Well done to my cluster colleagues who were also nominated for this award also”.

The award comes only weeks after the Cluster organisation was sighted ‘Best in Class’ for marketing international and SME promotion via its Annual Directory publication.

EUROPEAN CLUSTER CONFERENCE: DR. STAN HIGGINS VOTED THE “EUROPEAN CLUSTER MANAGER OF THE YEAR 2014” Kirsi Ekroth-Manssila, Head of Unit SMEs, Cluster and Emerging Industries, Enterprise and Industry Directorate-General announced the winner of the European Cluster Manager of the Year, held at the European Cluster Conference in Brussels recently.

This Award honours cluster managers in Europe for outstanding services to their clusters and the achievement of major, cluster-related success stories. The contest is open to cluster managers from across Europe and this year it attracted 26 applications from 14 countries.

The Jury of the "European Cluster Manager of the Year Award 2014" was composed of the following members: z Mateja Dermastia, Member of Cabinet Slovenian Economy and Technology Development Ministry z Alberto de Cominges Barreiro, General Manager, CEAGA

Automotive Cluster Spain, vicechair person of the “Cluster Excellence Expert Group”, consisting of cluster managers holding the cluster excellence GOLD Label z Helmut Kergel, Director, European Secretariat for Cluster Analysis, member of the European Cluster Observatory team z Marc Pattinson, General Manager inno TSD, member of the European Cluster Observatory team The jury first made a shortlist of three finalists who then each delivered a short elevator pitch during the Award ceremony.

Following these presentations, conference participants were able to vote and select their favourite.

The winner and 2014 Cluster Manager Award went to Dr. Stan Higgins from the North East Process Industry Cluster (NEPIC) in the United Kingdom. The two runners up were: z Christiane Egger from Oekoenergie-Cluster in Austria z Patrick Cocquet from Cap Digital in France In handing over the awards, Kirsi Ekroth-Manssila said “Thank you to all the finalists for the high quality of their contributions to the European cluster community. I wish you good luck in pursuing the efforts to create more growth and jobs in your regions”.

Dr. Stan Higgins is the Chief Executive of the North East of England Process Industry Cluster.

The NEPIC Cluster aims to develop a competitive chemicals processing industry by building on the strong industrial base of the region. The NEPIC Cluster strategy is focused on growth and also a culture of measurement.

“Since the creation in 2003, we have received 83 significant investments supporting 4000 jobs and generating over £2 billion per annum of gross value added”, says Dr Stan Higgins.

After receiving the Award, Dr

Stan Higgins mentioned that, “sharing best practice with fellow Cluster professionals has been very important in the development of NEPIC. Attending the bi-annual European Cluster conference enables us to have input on future of EU Cluster Policy and it is an excellent way to meet new potential Cluster collaborators. To win awards is always special, but to be effectively openly elected as European Cluster Manger of the Year by policy makers, analysts and fellow cluster managers, your fellow professionals and peers, is really rewarding. It demonstrates that your Cluster and your Team are doing the right things and I hope NEPIC can live up to this accolade over the next two years”.

EUROPEAN CLUSTER CONFERENCE 2014: A STEP TOWARD A NEW EUROPEAN CLUSTER STRATEGY FOR GROWTH The fourth European Cluster Conference, organised by the European Commission’s Directorate General for Enterprise and Industry in Brussels during 21-22 October 2014, addressed the role of clusters in support of SME growth, industrial renewal and regional structural change and competitiveness.

It gathered over 340 cluster stakeholders from across Europe consisting of key policy-makers from national and regional authorities, practitioners and high-level speakers from academia and industry.

Conference participants discussed the latest trends and challenges for modern cluster policies and worked together to identify priority areas for a new European Cluster Strategy for Growth.

“This conference marks the beginning of a process that will review, and reflect on, the changing role of clusters in today's globalised economy”, said M. Baldinato, Member of the Cabinet of Nelli Feroci, Commissioner for Industry CHEMICAL NEWS DECEMBER 2014 z 75

and Entrepreneurship, in his welcome address. He summed up the ambition of the new cluster strategy as “positioning clusters as integrators across policies, sectors, regions and borders”.

The prosperity of the European Union relies on its ability to provide SMEs and industry with a favourable business environment and customised support to unlock growth opportunities. Stimulating crosssectoral cooperation and innovation as well as helping SMEs to access finance, new industrial value chains and to go international are seen as key drivers. Clusters and cluster organisations can play a key role in securing these objectives.

The conference sought to encourage the active participation of the participants through dynamic break-out sessions and an Open Space participatory session where the participants had the chance to raise all the 'burning issues' they felt had not yet been addressed during the conference. 19 such ideas were tabled and then discussed in small groups with their peers. The outcomes of the discussions were presented in a poster exhibition.

These different sessions provided inputs into the European Cluster Conference 2014 Declaration which the participants formulated by using an on-line voting tool designed specifically for the conference. The resulting Declaration was given to participants as they left the conference.

Keynote speakers on day addressed the challenges for modern cluster policy: Alain Schmitt, Assistant Director General of the French Ministry Directorate-General for competitiveness, industry and services highlighted the way in which the 71 French Pôles de Compétitivités have played an important role in boosting research and innovation activity. The policy has been particularly successful in involving SMEs in R&D actions and 76 z CHEMICAL NEWS DECEMBER 2014

SMEs have received over 50% of the cluster allocated research funds.

For him, a key challenge for future European cluster policy included “continuing to develop cluster standards and labels, financing inter-clustering activities and better targeting of financial instruments”.

Arantxa Tapia, the Basque Minister for economic development and competitiveness provided a perspective from her region on the role that cluster policies can play in implementing regional smart specialisation strategies. She also highlighted the way the Vanguard Initiative is helping a group of European regions to share their experiences especially on the themes of reindustrialisation and cross-sectoral opportunities.

The business perspective was provided by Franz Josef Kirschfink, CEO of the aerospace cluster organisation Hamburg Aviation Services. He stated that clusters “could help provide the basis for developing strong networks and creating trust between partners”.

This is especially important when bringing SMEs and large companies together in complex industrial value chains such as the aerospace industry.

Kirsi Ekroth-Manssila, Head of Unit 'SMEs: Clusters and Emerging Industries' of the European Commission’s Directorate General for Enterprise and Industry presented the new Horizon 2020 funded action entitled “Cluster facilitated projects for new industrial value chains” that will be launched in 2015. The first call will provide 24.9M€ to fund projects that involve clusters in defining new industrial value chains to support European growth. The main innovation of this action is the fact that “75% of the budget must be spent on innovation support for SMEs in the form of business support, for instance, through innovation vouchers, coworking facilities, mentoring and training". Clusters will play a key role

in channelling these funds to help enhance the innovation capacities of SMEs and fund large-scale demonstrator projects.

The conference also provided the opportunity to present a series of new value-added services and policy tools for the cluster community. Christian Ketels of the Stockholm School of Economics provided details on the statistical mapping work being undertaken by the European Cluster Observatory.

He presented the ten emerging industries that have been identified as key drivers of European economic growth and competitiveness.

During the evening reception, the previously shortlisted Cluster Manager of the Year finalists were presented to the conference participants. Following short elevator pitches, participants voted to select their favourite. The 2014 Cluster Manager Award went to Stan Higgins from the North East Process Industry Cluster in the UK. The two runnersup were Christiane Egger from Oekoenergie-Cluster in Austria and Patrick Cocquet from Cap Digital in France. The awards were presented

by Kirsi Ekroth-Manssila.

Other presentations and workshop sessions highlighted the great diversity of tools and instruments that are currently being deployed in cluster ecosystems across Europe. These included new financial instruments such as crosssectoral innovation vouchers, linking clusters to growth accelerators and the role of design and creativity in shaping and delivering cluster services.

Throughout the conference the role of clusters in supporting SME internationalisation actions was highlighted by many speakers, and prior to the main conference event some 75 clusters met in a European C2C matchmaking event. Over 150 face-to-face meetings took place providing scope to develop new contacts and identify potential crosssectoral and cross-border cluster

collaboration opportunities.

The conference was closed by Joanna Drake, Director for SMEs & Entrepreneurship, European Commission’s Enterprise and Industry Directorate-General. She reminded participants that their work had provided an important input to defining the content of the future European Cluster Strategy for Growth and that a public consultation on this Strategy will be launched early in 2015. The Strategy is likely to be based around six themes: supporting industrial transformation, facilitating emerging industries and new industrial value chains, strengthening SME competitiveness, accelerating regional smart specialisation, enabling SME internationalisation and promoting cluster excellence.

In her final message to participants she stated “I urge you to take the European Cluster Conference 2014 Declaration home with you and to share and discuss it in your ministries, regional administrations and with your cluster partners. And use those discussions to formulate your responses to the Public Consultation".

Notes: The European Cluster Conference 2014 Declaration, the conference programme, all speeches and presentations as well as the conference video and photos can be downloaded at http://ec.europa. eu/enterprise/initiatives/cluster/ observatory/news/index_en.htm Contacts: For further information please contact Lisbeth Bahl Poulsen from DG Enterprise and Industry (Lisbeth.Bahl-Poulsen@ec.europa. eu) or Marc Pattinson from the European Cluster Observatory team (m.pattinson@inno-group.com).

Details of the cluster services offered by the European Cluster Observatory can be found at http:// ec.europa.eu/enterprise/initiatives/ cluster/observatory/index_en.htm, and the team can be contacted at eco@vdivde-it.de.

SUNSHINE BIOPHARMA, LONZA TO MANUFACTURE ANTI-CANCER DRUG Sunshine Biopharma Inc, a pharmaceutical company focused on the research, development and commercialization of drugs for the treatment of various forms of cancer, announced an agreement with Lonza, a leading development and manufacturing company, for the manufacture of its anti-cancer drug, Adva-27a.

Lonza’s expertise and experience in small molecule development and manufacturing of active pharmaceutical ingredients, was an ideal fit for Sunshine’s Adva-27a.

Lonza’s manufacturing capacity ranges from gram quantities for process validation to kilogram amounts for clinical trials and tonne quantities for commercialization.

Manufacturing will begin at Lonza’s Nansha, China facility with the remaining key steps to be conducted in Lonza’s high containment cytotoxic facility in Visp, Switzerland.

“We are delighted to have a global leader like Lonza as our manufacturing partner. We have made significant recent strides in terms of research results showing the effectiveness of our lead compound against cancer cells as

well as in our manufacturing and recent fund raising efforts,” said Dr Steve N Slilaty, President and CEO, Sunshine Biopharma.

KBR AWARDED FEED SERVICES CONTRACT BUTADIENE EXPANSION PROJECT IN SAUDI ARABIA KBR Inc. (Houston; www.kbr. com) has been awarded a frontend engineering design (FEED) contract by Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC) for the debottlenecking and expansion of its Petrokemya Butadiene Extraction Plant in Al Jubail, Saudi Arabia.

Arabian Petrochemical Co. (Petrokemya), a wholly-owned affiliate of SABIC, is one of the largest manufacturing sites in Al Jubail. The site has an installed capacity of approximately 5.15 million metric tons per year (m.t./ yr) of petrochemicals including olefins, PVC/VCM, polystyrene and polyethylene plants in addition to utilities and steam generation.

The butadiene extraction plant was built in 1993 with a capacity of 123,000 m.t./yr. Petrokemya plans to significantly expand the capacity of the plant. This expansion is part of Petrokemya and SABIC’s vision and strategic business plan with a view of growing market demands in the downstream petrochemical market.

TOYO RECEIVES CONTRACT FOR FIRST-EVER COMMERCIAL APPLICATION OF HIGH-EFFICIENCY DISTILLATION SYSTEM Toyo Engineering Corp. (Toyo; Chiba, www.toyo-eng.co.jp) has been awarded a contract to commercialize an energy-saving distillation system, called SuperHIDiC, which was patented in 2011. The contract is for a distillation column in a methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) production plant to be constructed by Maruzen Petrochemical Co. Ltd. (Ichihara City, Chiba, Japan).

Advancing the concept of HIDiC and applying well-proven distillation and heat-transfer technologies, Toyo developed SuperHIDiC, a distillation system that produces high-economic efficiency while retaining the maintainability of normal distillation columns. SuperHIDiC enables 40–60% energy savings in many cases within the distillation process by providing optimal internal heat exchange (for more details, see Chem. Eng., January 2012, p. 10; www. chemengonline.com/chementator/8828.html).

Taking this opportunity to carry out commercialization, Toyo will strive to expand the application of SuperHIDiC to various distillation columns, thus helping reduce energy usage in oil refineries and petrochemical plants.

CHEMICAL NEWS DECEMBER 2014 z 77

Expected revenue from the contract was included in the third quarter 2014 backlog of unfilled orders for the Hydrocarbons segment. The contract value was not disclosed.

BAYER OPENS WEED RESISTANCE COMPETENCE CENTER IN FRANKFURT, GERMANY Bayer CropScience opened Weed Resistance Competence Center (WRCC) in Frankfurt, Germany on 19 November 2014. This is a major step forward in tackling weed resistance, as it will develop new weed control strategies, and share knowledge within the global community of farmers, agronomists and scientists.

As a scientific institution, the WRCC will act as Bayer CropScience’s global reference center for weed resistance management. The core activities of its 12 full-time personnel cover three areas: understanding weed resistance mechanisms and their evolution in the field; developing and testing new weed control strategies; and sharing Bayer CropScience’s knowledge and weed control solutions with the entire value chain.

“Bayer clearly recognizes the threat weed resistance poses to our business and to agriculture in general. The WRCC will help us learn from the past and develop solutions that secure harvests in the long run,” said Harry Strek, Head of WRCC.

AKZONOBEL BEGINS OPERATIONS AT DUBAI POWDER COATINGS PLANT AkzoNobel (Amsterdam, the Netherlands; www.akzonobel.com) has started operations at its new powder coatings plant in Dubai. The facility will significantly increase capacity for the company's Interpon and Resicoat products.

78 z CHEMICAL NEWS DECEMBER 2014

The state-of-the art site is AkzoNobel's sixth manufacturing plant in the Middle East and its 30th producing powder coatings around the world.

The plant will target growing regional demand for decorative powder coatings - particularly from the architectural sector - as well as functional products used in the oil and gas and construction markets.

AkzoNobel has been bolstering its operations in the region in recent years with a series of strategic investments. In 2013, the company acquired a 50 percent stake and management control in Sadolin Paints Oman, a manufacturer of decorative paints and performance coatings.

AkzoNobel is active in 15 countries in the Middle East, where the company employs more than 800 people.

WORLD’S LARGEST SNG PLANT STARTS OPERATION IN CHINA Haldor Topsoe A/S announced that Huineng, a large-scale SNG (Substitute Natural Gas) plant, went successfully on-stream near the city of Ordos, located in Inner Mongolia in the northern part of China. Topsoe has designed the methanation

section of this plant, which is the company’s second large-scale coalbased industrial SNG reference to begin operations in China following last years’ opening of Qinghua, the world’s largest SNG plant located in the Xinjiang region. The Huineng SNG plant is owned and operated by the private Chinese company Huineng Coal Electricity Group and represents an investment of $1.1 billion.

The plant will have an annual output of approximately 400 million normal cubic meters of SNG based on coal gasification. SNG derived from coal is a direct replacement for natural gas that can be used onsite, fed into a natural gas pipeline or liquefied into LNG. The SNG produced at Huineng will be liquefied into LNG and annually the facility expects to reach a total production of 280,000 tonne. This commodity will be transported to gas stations in Ordos and the area surrounding the city. Moreover, an agreement with Xingtai in the province of Heibei has been signed that will allow Huineng to supply LNG to run local buses in the city and help minimize harmful emissions.

The Huineng plant uses Topsoe catalysts and process technology, namely the company’s TREMP methanation technology which makes it possible to produce SNG from synthesis gas derived from

coal in an efficient and cost effective way. In the methanation process carbon oxides react with hydrogen to form methane, i.e. SNG. Since the methanation process is highly exothermic an efficient heat recovery scheme is key to maintain an attractive plant economy. “Converting coal to SNG is not only feasible, but also attractive from the perspectives of the environment, security of energy and the efficient use of available domestic resources.

In China coal is an abundant resource and SNG makes it possible to transform large reserves in remote, mountainous areas into a clean energy source that can be transported to densely populated areas and help reduce air pollution,� said Bjerne S Clausen, CEO, Haldor Topsoe A/S

NEW BIOCIDES REVIEW PROGRAMME REGULATION ENTERS INTO FORCE The new Commission delegated regulation identifies the active substance and product-type combinations in the Review Programme. The regulation describes processes for changing the participating company/ies and allows new active substance and product-type combinations to be added in specific cases.

The new work programme

for the systematic examination of all existing active substances contained in biocidal products enters into force on 30 October 2014. This new regulation updates the on-going review programme to fit the processes of the Biocidal Products Regulation and allows new active-substance/product-type combinations to be included in specific cases.

Key aspects of the regulation include: z Listing the active substance/ product-type combinations

currently in the Review Programme; z Listing the active substance/ product-type combinations not currently supported by at least one participant; z Defining Member States deadlines for submitting their assessments of the active substances in order to finalise the Review Programme by 2024 (as set in the amended Biocidal Products Regulation); z Detailing the procedure for joining and replacing participants

ECHA: RESTRICTIONS ARE FOCUS OF NEW ENFORCEMENT PROJECT At their recent plenary meeting, the Forum for Exchange of Information on Enforcement decided that its next major project will focus on enforcing REACH Annex XVII restrictions. The scope and individual restrictions to be covered will be confirmed in early 2015. Inspections will then take place during 2016. The final report will become available in 2017.

The Forum also agreed on two new smaller scale pilot projects.

The first will check that the packaging of chemical products available to the general public have appropriate child resistant fastenings where needed.

The second will follow up specific cases where ECHA has identified deficiencies in harmonised classification and labelling. These will focus on substances with CMR or sensitising properties.

The reports on both pilot projects are expected in the first half of 2016.

The Forum also held an open session with accredited stakeholder organisations (ASOs). The stakeholders brought forward a number of items for discussion including enforcing of dossier evaluation decisions, joint submission obligations, enforcement actions on nano-materials and involving customs authorities in REACH enforcement.

The next meeting of the Forum will take place on 24-26 March 2015 in Helsinki.

CHEMICAL NEWS DECEMBER 2014 z 79

supporting active substance/ product-type combinations; z Defining the specific cases where active substance/product-type combinations can be added to the Review Programme. A specific case for example is when the substance benefitted from a derogation for food and feed under the old Review Programme regulation. Deadlines apply for declaring an interest to notify an addition of an active substance/ product-type combination; z Clarifying that nano forms of active substances require notification within 12 months in order to remain in the Review Programme. This requirement applies to all active substances except silver absorbed on silicon dioxide (as a nanomaterial in the form of a stable aggregate with primary particles in the nanoscale) (CAS 68909-206) and silicon dioxide (as a nanomaterial formed by aggregates and agglomerates) (No CAS available), as these two

substances are already included as nanomaterials in the Review Programme.

Biocidal products that contain active substances that are included in the Review Programme can be made available and used subject to national laws until 3 years after the date of approval of the last

GIVAUDAN OPENS EXPANDED TECHNICAL CENTRE, REGIONAL OFFICES IN DUBAI Givaudan, the world’s leading Flavour and Fragrance company, opened its new, expanded technical centre and regional offices in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

For the first time customers from across the region will benefit from local access to Givaudan’s world class Savoury and Snacks Flavour creation and application capabilities. These are complemented by the full range of services in Sweet Goods and Beverages, where Givaudan is now also offering Flavour creation in addition to already existing application expertise.

The new state-of-the-art facilities are responding to growing demand for flavours from developing markets. The new technical centre in Dubai is part of the Company’s overall strategy of increasing its sales in developing markets.

“Givaudan is already touching the lives of millions of consumers in the Middle East with delighting flavours every day. With this significant investment, we are now offering food manufacturers and food service companies the full range of our creation and application services from within the Middle East. Building on the passion of our people for food and flavours, we are sharing our profound understanding of Middle Eastern consumers and local taste preferences. In close collaboration with our customers, we can now develop new flavours faster and respond immediately to shifting market trends,” said Henning Hartnacke, President, Europe, Africa, Middle East Flavours, Givaudan.

80 z CHEMICAL NEWS DECEMBER 2014

active substance / product-type combination in the product.

The active substance / producttype combinations included in the Review Programme but not currently supported by a participating company are listed in part 2 of Annex II of the new regulation. Companies interested in supporting those active substances are invited to prepare their notifications. They will have to be made within one year of entering into force of the regulation.

KEMIRA INAUGURATES CHEMICAL PRODUCTION PLANT IN NANJING Kemira celebrated the completion of the company’s new Nanjing production base. The Nanjing plant is located in the Nanjing Chemical Park, Jiangsu Province.

Kemira’s already completed and future investments into the plant will amount to approximately USD 100 million in an area of 77,000 sq mt. It will provide a wide range of functional and process chemicals for water-intensive industries such as the paper industry. The estimated annual capacity is 100,000 tons.

The new plant is equipped with cutting-edge facilities offering the highest quality, featuring a high degree of automation and use of sophisticated

IT-systems in the production process.

Kemira’s new plant is focused on the Asian market, China in particular.

Production will be mainly serving the paper industry, while at the same time providing products and services to the oil & mining industry and municipal water treatment.

“This investment is an important move for Kemira to strengthen its position in China and promote sustainable development in the paper industry,” said Jari Rosendal, President and CEO of Kemira. He further noted, “As a global chemicals company focused on serving the water intensive industries, Kemira has consistently helped clients to create more value by providing expertise, application know-how and tailored chemicals for improving our customers’ water, energy and raw material efficiency. Here in China and Asia-Pacific, we see huge business potential for us especially in serving the paper industry. We demonstrated our commitment to this industry and the region recently by announcing the acquisition of AkzoNobel’s global paper chemical business. This alone will double the size and scope of our business in the Asia-Pacific region.”

Joe Chan, President of Asia-Pacific Region at Kemira, commented: “Kemira always endeavors to provide the water-intensive industries with the best possible service and support. To further satisfy the needs of Asian and local Chinese customers, and to differentiate ourselves to gain a competitive edge, we need to constantly work on technological innovation, provide a comprehensive range of products and deliver the finest professional technical service.

The completion of our new plant in Nanjing will undoubtedly raise the quality standards of our local products and service. We also hope it would develop into a leading benchmarking enterprise in China’s chemical industry, contributing to the production and operating standards in the industry.”

JOINT STATEMENT BY AMERICAN CHEMISTRY COUNCIL AND NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CHEMICAL DISTRIBUTORS ON ENHANCING SAFETY AND INDUSTRY PERFORMANCE The American Chemistry Council (ACC) and the National Association of Chemical Distributors (NACD) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) stressing the importance of implementation of their mutual industry performance programs, namely Responsible Care® and Responsible Distribution. Both programs are membership requirements and require third party verification. The MOU stressed the associations’ willingness to work together through these programs to share

best practices, systems and performance metrics, and increase collaboration on industry events.

In conjunction with the signing, ACC and NACD issued the following statement: “ACC and NACD share a unique relationship that surpasses the usual association liaison. Our two organizations are proud to cooperate with one another to advance Responsible Care and Responsible Distribution principles within our growing industry. By working together, we are better poised to take advantage of opportunities and address challenges facing the chemical industry.

“We have much in common as our members work to produce and distribute products in the safest and most secure methods possible.

US, CHINA SIGN CLIMATE CHANGE DEAL In a historic climate change deal, US President Barack Obama and Chinese President Xi Jinping announced both countries will curb their greenhouse gas emissions over the next two decades. Under the agreement, the United States would cut its 2005 level of carbon emissions by 26-28 per cent before the year 2025. China would peak its carbon emissions by 2030 and will also aim to get 20 per cent of its energy from zero-carbon emission sources by the same year.

“As the world’s two largest economies, energy consumers US PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA WITH CHINESE and emitters of greenhouse gases, PRESIDENT XI JINPING. we have a special responsibility to lead the global effort against climate change,” said Obama in a joint news conference with Xi. The announcement marks the first time China has agreed to peak its carbon emissions, according to the White House. Xi is calling for ‘an energy revolution’ that would include broad economic reforms addressing air pollution. Obama, who was in Beijing for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, said he hopes the deal will spur other nations to tackle climate change.

“We hope to encourage all major economies to be ambitious - all countries, developing and developed - to work across some of the old divides, so we can conclude a strong global climate agreement next year,” said Obama.

Xi said both sides were committed to working toward the goals before the United Nations Climate Conference in Paris next year.

CHEMICAL NEWS DECEMBER 2014 z 81

Enhancing relationships between manufacturers and distributors helps ensure seamless product management and ultimately improved performance.

“Most importantly, our members share the commitment that continuous improvement in environment, health, safety, and security is imperative in an ever changing industry. ACC and NACD will continue to promote the value of third party verification to chemical companies across the country, and this MOU demonstrates the importance of collaboration to reach out to companies in the industry who can benefit from management systems like Responsible Distribution and Responsible Care.

“The MOU is a testament to the integrity of our associations’ performance programs and demonstrates to customers, employees, regulatory authorities, and the public that these mutual programs are synergistic, improve performance, and are growing in numbers across the United States.”

NEW STUDY SHOWS DECLINE IN EU CHEMICALS SECTOR GLOBAL COMPETITIVENESS Low-cost energy, innovation key in addressing EU market share ‘dilution’ and in reversing export decline Europe’s high energy costs and lower R&D spending intensity over the past 82 z CHEMICAL NEWS DECEMBER 2014

two decades have dented the EU chemical sector’s competitiveness in the global export market, according to a study unveiled today

by European chemicals trade body CEFIC. The CEFIC-commissioned report, produced by Oxford Economics, concludes that lost competitiveness has eaten into the EU share of global exports, which fell to 21 per cent in 2012 from 31 per cent in 1991. The study shows that the EU industry’s diminished share in world sales is mostly due to a decline in competitiveness as opposed to slow growing destination markets. Even the EU industry’s domestic sales market share has dropped.

Energy costs are the European industry’s Achilles’ heel, especially compared to the oil and gas-rich Middle East, and more recently to the United States, which are riding on a shale gas boom. The European chemical sector is also grappling with slipping investments and increasing regulatory complexity, exacerbating the competitiveness gap with its rivals at the detriment of innovation and job creation.

The downward trend can, according to the Oxford report, be halted or even reversed most significantly by reducing energy costs. It also encourages research and development in product and process innovations, which are the

foundations of the sector’s longerterm growth. The report estimates that over the next 15 years such measures could boost EU GDP by up to €35 billion and create more than 500,000 jobs, half of which in the chemical sector.

“A coordinated EU energy policy would be a major contribution in re-establishing the European chemical industry’s competitiveness, re-launch investment and stimulate research and innovation,” said newly appointed CEFIC President Jean-Pierre Clamadieu at a press conference in Brussels. “With such a policy, European decision makers can boost more broadly short- and long-term industry competitiveness and lay a solid foundation for growth.”

The study’s findings on the export decline back up recent data from CEFIC, showing that while the EU chemical trade surplus reached a €48.7 billion record in 2013, net EU chemical exports for the first seven months of this year fell €2.7 billion from the same period in 2013. The decline was due to lower exports to Asia and the United States on the one hand and mounting pressure for US and Middle East imports on the other. Energy-intensive chemical segments like petrochemicals and polymers, which account for half of EU chemicals exports, were especially hit. z

Government of India Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers Department of Chemicals & Petrochemicals

CHEMICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION (CWC) ATTENTION ALL CHEMICAL / PHARMACEUTICAL / PETROCHEMICAL / DYESTUFFS / PIGMENTS MANUFACTURERS / EXPORTERS / IMPORTERS (ENFORCEMENT OF CWC ACT- 2000)

SUBMIT DECLARATIONS NOW

India being signatory to CWC, submission of Declaration is obligatory under the CWC Act – 2000.

Non-compliance is a criminal offence & attracts imprisonment / penalties.

SCHEDULE- 2 CHEMICALS Initial and Annual Declarations are required for all plant sites that comprise one or more plant(s) which produced, processed or consumed during any of the previous three calendar years or is anticipated to produce, process or consume in the next calendar year more than:

(a) 1 Kg. of a Chemical designated “ * ” in Schedule–2, Part-A; (b) 100 Kg. of any other chemical listed in Schedule-2, Part-A; OR (c) 1 Tonne of a chemical listed in Schedule-2, Part-B of Annex on Chemicals of CWC.

SCHEDULE- 3 CHEMICALS

Initial and Annual Declarations are required for all plant sites that comprise one or more plants which produced during the previous calendar year or are anticipated to produce in the next calendar year more than 30 Tonnes of a Schedule-3 Chemical of Annex on Chemicals of CWC. Declarations are also required on the quantities for each Schedule-2 and Schedule-3 chemical(s) imported and exported for the previous Calendar Year for each country involved.

Declaration Time Limit for Schedules – 2, 3 & Other Chemical Production Facilities (OCPFs) DECLARATION Annual Declaration of Past Activities (ADPA) for Schedule 2,3 & OCPF

25th January every year

Annual Declaration of Anticipated Activities (ADAA) for Schedule 2 & 3 only

25th July every year

Additionally planned activities

DEADLINE

Any planned change minus 30 Days i.e.

30 days before commencement of activities

FOR OTHER CHEMICAL PRODUCTION FACILITIES (OCPFs)

Initial and Annual Declaration is required for all plant sites that produced by synthesis during previous calendar year more than 200 tonnes of unscheduled Discrete Organic Chemicals (DOCs) or 30 tonnes of an unscheduled DOC containing – PSF (elements Phosphorus, Sulphur or Fluorine) Chemical.

File CWC Declarations online. Access the web address http://cwc.dcpc.nic.in for the purpose.

FOR FURTHER DETAILS UNDERMENTIONED WEBSITES MAY BE VISITED

www.opcw.org



www.chemicals.nic.in



www.nacwc.nic.in

For any clarification, please contact CWC HelpDesk of your region set up by Department of Chemicals & Petrochemicals, Govt. of India: ■ Chennai HelpDesk: ■ Hyderabad HelpDesk: ■ Kolkata HelpDesk: ■ Mumbai HelpDesk: ■ New Delhi HelpDesk: ■ Vadodara HelpDesk:

MR. R. NARAYANAN, Mobile: 09788580405 Email: narayanan.icc@gmail.com MR. V. GIREESAN MENON, Mobile: 08790975660 Email: icc.cwc@iccmail.in MR. ABHIJIT CHAKRABORTY, Mobile: 09831325654 Email: iccero@iccmail.in MR. SUDHIR KULKARNI, Mobile: 09930301927 Email: kulkarni.icc.mumbai@gmail.com MR. K.S. VARMA, Mobile: 09811007209 Email: cwchdd@gmail.com MR. ANAND KANE, Mobile: 09376980207 Email: cwchelpdesk@iccmail.in

Intimation Slip and Hard Copy of Declaration is to be sent (by SPEED POST ONLY) to: MR. O. P. SHARMA, Joint Industrial Advisor Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers, Dept.of Chemicals & Petrochemicals, Govt.of India Room No. 223, A-Wing, Shastri Bhawan, Dr. Rajendra Prasad Road, New Delhi - 110001 Tel: 011-23071442 Tele-Fax: 011-23071187 Email: efilehelp.dcpc@nic.in

A Hard Copy of the Declaration also be submitted to: MRS. LATA MOHAN, Joint Director National Authority, Chemical Weapons Convention Cabinet Secretariat, 1st Floor,Chanakya Bhavan, New Delhi - 110021 Tel: 011-24675527 Fax: 011-24675767 Cell: 09560454945 Email: lata.mohan@nic.in

CHEMICAL NEWS DECEMBER 2014 z 83

QUOTABLE & LAUGHABLE

HOMAGE TO PT. JAWAHARLAL NEHRU ON HIS 125TH BIRTH ANNIVERSARY It is science alone that can solve the problems of hunger and poverty, of insanitation and illiteracy, of superstition and deadening custom and tradition, of vast resources running to waste, or a rich country inhabited by starving people... Who indeed could afford to ignore science today? At every turn we have to seek its aid... The future belongs to science and those who make friends with science.”

“The applications of science are inevitable and unavoidable for all countries and peoples today. But something more than its application is necessary. It is the scientific approach, the adventurous and yet critical temper of science, the search for truth and new knowledge, the refusal to accept anything without testing and 84 z CHEMICAL NEWS DECEMBER 2014

trial, the capacity to change previous conclusions in the face of new evidence, the reliance on observed fact and not on pre-conceived theory, the hard discipline of the mind – all this is necessary, not merely for the applications of science but for life

itself and the solution of its many problems… The scientific approach and temper are, or should be, a way of life, a process of thinking, a method of acting and associating with our fellow men...

- Jawaharlal Nehru

LETTER (NOTE) WRITTEN BY MAHATMA GANDHI FEW DAYS BEFORE HIS DEATH TO PT. JAWAHARLAL NEHRU.

Published by Mr. R. R. Gokhale at Mumbai on behalf of the owners Indian Chemical Council (ICC), Sir Vithaldas Chambers, 16 Mumbai Samachar Marg, Mumbai-400 001 and printed by him at Sevak Printers, 308 Shri Hanuman Indl. Est., G. D. Ambekar Road, Wadala, Mumbai-400 031, Tel.: 24114890, Telefax: 24116484, E-mail: sevak308@gmail.com Editor: Dr. Prakash Trivedi CHEMICAL NEWS DECEMBER 2014 z 85

 R.N.I. REGN. NO. MAHENG/2004/13760  POSTAL REGN. NO. MH/MR/SOUTH-23/2012-14  PubLIShEd ON 28/29 dAy Of EvERy PREvIOuS mONTh.  POSTEd AT PATRIKA ChANNEL SORTING OffICE, mumbAI GPO, mumbAI-400001 ON 28/29 dAy Of EvERy PREvIOuS mONTh.

Let us grow together

RCF is the leading manufacturer of Fertilizers, Industrial Chemicals & also in trading.

Total turnover of the company is around ` 7000 Crores. Industrial Products Division accounts for more than ` 1000 Crore of the turnover.

We produce high Quality Industrial Chemicals METHANOL

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Our products are widely accepted in the domestic and international market. 'Competitiveness, quality, reliability and customer care' are the foremost objectives of our business.

Industries served: mining, pesticides, rayon, rubber, synthetic fibres, bakery, pharmaceuticals, textiles, paints, plastics, explosives, poultry, agriculture, tanneries, glass, construction, defence and many more...

(A Government of India Undertaking) CIN L24110MH1978GOI020185 Priyadarshini, Eastern Express Highway, Sion, Mumbai 400 022 Tel.: 0091-22-2552 3010, 2401 2150 Fax: 022-2404 5126

Email: ed_ipd@rcfltd.com Website: www.rcfltd.com 86 z CHEMICAL NEWS DECEMBER 2014