India’s largest integrated phenol and acetone plant was inaugurated in Haldia, West Bengal, on 14 October 2026. Developed by Adperma Private Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Haldia Petrochemicals Limited, the facility involved an investment of ₹6,000 crore. It is the first phenol manufacturing facility on India’s eastern coast.
Petrochemical products and uses
Phenol is an aromatic organic compound with the formula C₆H₅OH. It is used to manufacture phenolic resins, bisphenol A and pharmaceuticals. Acetone, also known as propanone, has the formula C₃H₆O and is a widely used industrial solvent and chemical feedstock. The Haldia facility has an annual production capacity of 3.45 lakh tonnes of phenol and 2.15 lakh tonnes of acetone. These chemicals are used in a range of industrial processes and products, including plastics, coatings and synthetic materials.
Propylene and process technology
The plant includes India’s first on-purpose propylene unit. Propylene is an important petrochemical feedstock used to produce polypropylene, propylene oxide and acrylonitrile. On-purpose production means that a chemical is manufactured specifically to meet demand rather than obtained only as a by-product of another process. The unit uses olefin conversion technology to produce propylene. Olefins are unsaturated hydrocarbons that include ethylene and propylene. The facility’s production capacity and integrated design place it within the petrochemical sector, which processes hydrocarbon feedstocks into chemicals and materials.
Project profile and industrial context
The project was developed by Adperma Private Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Haldia Petrochemicals Limited. West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari inaugurated the plant. The project is expected to create approximately 400 direct jobs and 1,000 indirect jobs. The facility is described as India’s largest integrated plant of its kind. Its commissioning is associated with domestic production of phenol and acetone, which are also traded internationally as industrial chemicals.
Important Facts for Exams
:
- Phenol has the chemical formula C₆H₅OH.
- Acetone’s IUPAC name is propanone, and its chemical formula is C₃H₆O.
- Propylene is also known as propene and is an important feedstock for polypropylene production.
- Haldia is a port and industrial town in West Bengal, on the Hooghly River.
The plant’s annual capacity is 345,000 tonnes of phenol and 215,000 tonnes of acetone. Its on-purpose propylene unit uses olefin conversion technology to produce propylene for specific demand.
