DIBRUGARH, July 4 � After facing flak over the inordinate delay in operationalising the mega gas cracker project at Lepetkata, the Brahmaputra Cracker and Polymer Limited (BCPL) management today said the delay was caused due to technical issues in its two units.
BCPL managaing director Prabhu Nath Prasad told newsmen today that all the units within the BCPL complex were commissioned except for two units � ethylene cracker unit and linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE)/high density polyethylene (HDPE) unit. �These two units took four months instead of one month, for lubrication with steam blowing and lube flushing. Lubrication is required before the machine is put into operation. The pipe systems also needed to be flushed and cleaned of dust, stones and other elements,� Prasad said.
He assured newsmen at a press conference at its plant�s administrative complex that the project in its entirety would be operationalised in another two to three months.
June 30, 2015 was the last deadline for full-fledged commissioning of the BCPL in its entirety. However, on that date the gas sweetening units (GSU) and C2+recovery units were commissioned.
If operationalised in its entirety, BCPL will be producing about 2,20,000 tonnes per annum of LLDPE/HDPE and 60,000 tonnes of polypropylene, besides other value-added byproducts. Gauging from the fact that plastic consumption in the North-east is 3.75 kg per capita, which is far less than the national average of eight kg, this project is expected to usher in a new era towards socio-economic development of the region.
It is expected that with full-fledged operation of the BCPL, avenues of employment would be generated both directly and indirectly through setting up of downstream industries. However, the BCPL MD said that the State government must accelerate its works in setting up the proposed plastic park in Tinsukia and facilitate establishment of downstream industries.
On the death of Bimal Kumar, GM (Projection Execution) of BCPL, who committed suicide inside his room recently, Prasad said the incident had caused great shock to the management. On the charges of corruption raised by Kumar, he said police investigations were on, as also an internal inquiry.
