One cannot understate the importance of the petrochemical industry in the manufacturing and industrial sector in India. This sector produces chemicals, plastics, and polymers that several industries use, including automotive, construction, electronics, textiles, and packaging industries. This is a sensitive section of the economy and therefore the Indian government has rolled out a number of schemes and initiatives in this regard that aim to innovation in petrochemicals industry through the promotion of research, innovation and investment in the sector. Such initiatives seek to improve the domestic capabilities, promote the technological developments and increase the growth of the sector while keeping in mind the green concerns.
Many issues confront the petrochemical industry, including the need for advanced technologies, the use of green sciences, and maintaining competitiveness in a global market. Therefore, the government has introduced other programs to stimulate the economy by promoting research in the growth of new industries and ways that aim to overcome these issues and foster innovation.
Key Government Schemes and Initiatives
1. Centers of Excellence in Polymer Technology
Under the Department of Chemicals and Innovation in Petrochemicals, 13 Centers of Excellence (CoEs) have been set up in well-known educational and research institutes throughout India. These CoEs cover a wide range of polymer technology as well as research activities in the petroleum and petrochemical industries. The objective of such a setting is to develop the synergy of academic institutions, industries and government in the research of issues, which are fundamental to the development of the sector.
The focus research themes undertaken under these CoEs include:
- Sustainable polymers and green materials: Research and Design eco polymers which have minimal adverse effects to the environment.
- Advanced polymeric materials: Research and Develop high polymers for different fields.
- Biopolymer system development: Designing and Engineering compostable materials targeting standard plastic substitutes.
- Additive manufacturing specialty polymers: Improving the 3D printing materials and other advanced production materials.
- Polymer coatings and membranes: Enhancing performance and wear resistance of aerospace, automotive, building and other protective coatings.
The government provides only fifty percent (50%) of the total cost, capped at six million rupees per each center of excellence. This is very critical towards enhancing research and development (R&D) activities in the areas of petrochemicals and polymer materials so that it focuses on generating new products and services according to what the market demands.
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2. Petrochemicals Research & Innovation Commendation Scheme
This scheme, previously known as the National Petrochemicals Awards scheme, encourages oncoming research and technology development. The scheme has undergone changes to better reward deserving merit in the field of petrochemical innovation. It now nurtures awards to inventors and researchers in the forms of articles and items of appreciation instead of providing them cash awards.
New Elements embodied in the adjusted scheme are:
- Introduction of Certificates and the Presentation of Mementos in respect of the winners for their work conducted under the petrochemical sector.
- Establishment of the two committees namely the Screening Committee and the Commendations Approval Committee for effective assessment and determination of the winners.
- Transportation cost coverage for the winners in award ceremonies, availing this opportunity to all researchers in the country to attend the award ceremonies and make their comments.
This system acts as a stage for the showcase of cutting-edge research works and technological achievements in the petrochemical industry and motivates people as well as organizations to explore the horizons of newness further.
3. Setting up of Plastic Parks
The Plastic Parks Scheme is envisaged to create modern pneumatic parks with best-in-class facilities and infrastructure for promoting the domestic plastic conversion sector. These parks operate as industrial clusters and accommodate several plastic processing and manufacturing units with gingerbread testing and quality control and training facilities.
As for now, the government proposes the grant amount not exceeding 50% of the total project cost, which is in total Rs. 40 Crores. This is in a bid to improve the competitiveness of the small and medium enterprises included in the scheme by giving them modern facilities and infrastructure, technical expertise and common services.
To date however, the government has issued approval for the establishment of plastic parks in a total of ten states in India which include the states of Madhya Pradesh, Odisha and Tamil Nadu. In all these parks, it is anticipated that a range of services that will be provided will strengthen the currently existing plastic processing infrastructure in such a way as to promote cluster development.
4. Petroleum, Chemical, and Petrochemical Investment Regions (PCPIRs)
In line with that, there are provisions by the government for the establishment of PCPI Regions, leeways for investment into the Petrochemical value chain. A PCPIR is a specific area which is created for enhancing the production of chemicals and petrochemicals, including the provision of modern infrastructure, special economic zones, and tax holidays.
This is due to the fact that these areas cover crucial states which include, for example, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, which are more friendly to people investing. There are expectations on locating PCPIRs and a large number of people being employed has bald attendance, and increase in production capacities, all contributing to the country’s economic development.
5. Support for Research and Skill Development Institutions
Apart from the above mentioned schemes, the government also extends financial assistance to some of the self governing bodies like:
- Central Institute of Petrochemicals Engineering and Technology (CIPET): CIPET is an institute which aims at imparting education and technology as well as engineering with respect to plastics. CIPET is an important agency to address the needs of skill development and capacity building in the plastic and petrochemical domains and sectors.
- Institute of Pesticide Formulation Technology (IPFT): The focus of this institute is on the research in pesticide formulation and agrotech products. Research activities implemented by IPFT are financed by the government in order to enhance the efficacy of the agrochemicals produced from the petrochemical sector.
Both of these establishments provide remarkable services in the creation of a pool of trained manpower for the petroleum industry, carry out R&D work and encourage development in respective sectors.
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6. International Collaboration and Knowledge Sharing
India is a signatory and engaged in the implementation of various treaties and agreements like the Chemical Weapons Convention which helps the nation appreciate the changing trends in the Innovation in Petrochemicals industry. The benefits of these are that they give human resource development as well as development of activities in the petrochemical sector with other developed and developing countries and institutions in the sector.
Conclusion
Transformational growth is on the horizon, courtesy of the Indian government’s perception-checking holistic policies geared towards the innovation in the petrochemical industry. Sustainability, advanced materials, and technologies being at the core of these initiatives, have enabled the academic institutions, researchers, and industries push the frontiers of polymer science and petrochemical innovation.
The government is creating a strong innovation infrastructure that will respond to the needs of the contemporary petrochemical industry through the Centers of Excellence Petrochemical Commendation Scheme, Plastic parks and PCPIRs initiatives. Additionally, assistance to the research centres such as CIPET and IPFT ensures that the most innovative techniques in this industry will be available in India.
There is considerable potential for growth in the petrochemical sector and more so with sustainability and responsibility being at the center of it all. Given the government’s schemes and initiatives, it is possible for India to improve its position in global competition, incite large investments, and upgrade technological capabilities that will shape the future of the petrochemical industry.
In view of the fact that the entire world is envisioning a greener future, the Indian petrochemicals industry will be at the center of globalization shaping demand for innovative greener products and processes. This transformation can and will happen with the help of the government to the researchers, industries and academic institutions.
