₹6,000-crore facility adds significant domestic capacity for two critical chemical intermediates and supports India's growing specialty chemicals sector and reduce import dependency
Bibhash Lodh, BS News Agency, Haldia, West Bengal: Adperma Private Limited, a subsidiary of Haldia Petrochemicals Limited (HPL), today opened its integrated Phenol and Acetone manufacturing plant at Haldia, West Bengal. With an annual capacity of 345,000 tonnes of Phenol and 215,000 tonnes of Acetone, the facility is the largest of its kind in India and has been built at a cost of ₹6,000 crore.
Designed and built using process technology licensed from Lummus Technology – a TCG Group company, the plant is integrated within HPL’s existing petrochemical complex, drawing directly on the upstream feedstocks — Propylene and Benzene. The project which is also the first Phenol plant on the Eastern coast significantly expands India's domestic supply of two intermediates that the country has historically imported in large volumes.
The plant was inaugurated by the Hon'ble Chief Minister of West Bengal, Shri Suvendu Adhikari, in the presence of Dr. Purnendu Chatterjee, Chairman, The Chatterjee Group (TCG); Mr. Navanit Narayan, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Haldia Petrochemicals Limited; and Mr. Sanjiv Vasudeva, Chief Executive Officer, Adperma Private Limited. The ceremony was attended by Ministers, Members of Parliament and the West Bengal Legislative Assembly, senior industry figures, diplomats and other dignitaries.
Phenol and Acetone are key chemical intermediates used across diverse industrial applications. With enhanced domestic production, the facility will strengthen supply capabilities and create a platform for downstream value addition. The project is an important step in HPL and Adperma’s strategy to expand their presence in value-added chemicals and develop downstream specialty chemical applications around these key building blocks.
Dr. Purnendu Chatterjee, Chairman, The Chatterjee Group, said, "Seeing this project come to life in Haldia is deeply gratifying. It reflects our long-held conviction in West Bengal's industrial potential, and I believe Adperma will prove a strong foundation for the next stage of growth in chemicals — one that creates genuine, lasting value for the region and the country."
Speaking about the launch of the plant, Mr. Navanit Narayan, MD & CEO, Haldia Petrochemicals Limited, said, "This plant has been a long time in the making, and seeing it commissioned is genuinely satisfying. It will improve domestic availability of chemical intermediates that Indian industry depends on, and it gives us a platform to move progressively into higher-value products. Strengthening Haldia's position as a chemicals manufacturing hub is central to what we are trying to build."
Mr. Sanjiv Vasudeva, Chief Executive Officer, Adperma Private Limited, added, "Our immediate focus is straightforward: consistent quality, reliable supply, and responsible operations. Beyond that, we see real opportunities to develop downstream applications from Haldia. We are keen to work with customers and industry partners who share that ambition."
Phenol and Acetone serve a diverse range of industries. Phenol is a key raw material for Bisphenol-A, polycarbonates and phenolic resins, with applications in laminates, plywood and wood panels, adhesives, and refractory and foundry resins. Acetone is widely used in paints and coatings, pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, fine chemicals, personal care products, adhesives and industrial solvents. With domestic supply historically constrained relative to demand, India has relied on imports to bridge the gap.
The project marks a significant step towards expanding Bengal’s chemical value chain and building a diversified chemicals ecosystem across Eastern India. By strengthening domestic manufacturing capabilities and downstream linkages, it aims to position Bengal as an important hub in India’s chemicals industry.
Adperma's facility changes that equation materially. Integrated with HPL facility, the Haldia complex now handles the full conversion pathway from upstream intermediates through to finished Phenol and Acetone — giving Indian customers a reliable, proximate source of supply and reducing exposure to import price volatility.
The project is expected to generate employment directly and across its supply chain, contributing to the industrial development of West Bengal and to national goals around domestic manufacturing capability.