Quoting sources familiar with the matter, Reuters said the two companies signed a Memorandum of Understanding in June to establish a joint venture. Shell has not commented on the story.

The proposed complex will be built at Vadinar, Gujarat state, where Nayara already operates a refinery, and comprises a 1.8 million t/y steam cracker and downstream units, including aromatics. Overall capacity will be 10.75 million t/y of petrochemicals with completion scheduled in five years’ time.

Nayara is already building a 450,000 t/y PP plant at Vadinar, using Unipol technology from W.R. Grace, as well as a 200,000 t/y methyl tertiary-butyl ether plant. Start-up is scheduled by the end of 2022.

Based in Mumbai, the Indian firm, formerly known as Essar Oil, is 49.13% owned by Russian energy group Rosneft.

Author: Elaine Burridge, Freelance Journalist