IOCL sets up centre for development of polymer industry in Odisha

    Bhubaneswar, Jun 25 (PTI) In a bid to facilitate the
growth of polymer industry in Odisha and eastern India, Indian
Oil Corporation Ltd has set up a Product Application and
Development Centre (PADC) in Paradip.
    Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and Union
Petroleum and Steel minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Thursday
jointly inaugurated the PADC, set up at a cost of Rs 43 crore
on 5 acres of land adjacent to IOCLs refinery and
pharmaceutical complex.
    "This centre will not only perform a pivotal role in
developing new materials and innovative applications but will
also provide support to investors in setting up manufacturing
units in the plastic and polymer sectors," Patnaik said during
the inauguration programme held via video conference.
    IOCL is the anchor for the plastic and petrochemical-
based industries in Odisha, and it should play a proactive
role in providing infrastructure, raw material and technology
support to entrepreneurs who wish to set up units in the
region, he said.
    The company's proposed project in the Bhadrak Textiles
Park is also an important step towards developing an ecosystem
for technical textiles in Odisha, the chief minister said.
    The implementation of Bhadrak project of IOCL also
needs to be expedited, he said.
    The PADC at Paradip can play the role of a catalyst in
developing polymer-based industry in Odisha and it should
emerge as one of the centres of excellence in the field of
polymer applications, Patnaik said.
    Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan said that the PADC
would act as a supporting technical centre for polyester yarns
and fabrics for the upcoming textile downstream units in
Bhadrak and Dhamra.
    Besides providing considerable employment
opportunities to a large number of people in the state, the
PADC and the downstream units will meet the requirements
within the country as well as abroad, he said.
    The project will not only help in the economic growth
of Odisha but also that of the whole country, he said adding
that it will make significant contributions to the Make-in-
India initiative.
    The technical centre - the sixth of its kind in the
country and second in the east - is a recognised laboratory of
the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR)
under the Ministry of Science and Technology.
    In line with the "Atmanirbhar Bharat" programme of the
Union government, the PADC will help curtail polymer imports
through substitution, a senior official said.
    Innovative application development is also a prime
focus of the centre to replace imports of finished goods in
niche fabrics and technical textiles, the official said.
    It will identify areas for development of applications
of polymeric material to become self-reliant by promoting
indigenous manufacturing, he said.
    The PADC would be working closely in application and
development of polymers in collaboration with research
institutes such as the Institute of Chemical Technology,
Bhubaneswar, Central Institute of Plastics Engineering and
Technology, Chennai, and the National Chemical Laboratory,
Pune. PTI SKN
NN NN

(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)