Wax Deoiling Technology at Numaligarh Refinery, BPCL: Dedicated to the Nation

CSIR-Indian Institute of Petroleum (CSIR-IIP), Dehradun, in association with the Engineers India Ltd. (EIL) won an international competition to adopt the Wax Deoiling Technology developed by CSIR-IIP, at Numaligarh Refinery Ltd. (NRL). The Wax Deoiling Plant based on such indigenously developed technology was set up with an investment of ` 750 crore at NRL — a subsidiary of Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) — situated in north-east part of India. The Plant was dedicated to the Nation by Hon’ble Prime Minister in February 2016. The Wax Deoiling Technology is used to produce waxes from petroleum streams. This newly set up plant will produce 50,000 MMTPA of high value Paraffin Wax and 4,500 MTPA of Microcrystalline Wax that will help cut down the wax import by 50 percent and will save foreign exchange of about 500 crore rupees/annum.

The wax plant will help to develop small-scale ancillaries and cottage industries in the nearby areas and will promote industrial development in the north-east region of India. This plant will also generate direct and indirect employment opportunities for local people, thereby improving their quality of life. The commercialization of indigenous technology is in line with ‘Make in India’ initiative taken by the Government of India.