GAIL to build Maharashtra ethane cracker at Rs 400 bn

15 May 2023 CW Team

GAIL (India), the leading gas supplier in the country, plans to construct an ethane cracker worth Rs 400 billion near its liquefied natural gas (LNG) import plant in Maharashtra, according to two insiders with direct knowledge of the matter.

The move aims to meet the anticipated surge in demand as Indian companies boost their petrochemical production capacity due to the expanding economy, requiring more goods ranging from plastics to paints and adhesives.

A cracker produces ethylene, which is necessary for producing products such as plastics. By 2040, the demand for petrochemicals is predicted to triple, necessitating significant investments to establish new facilities throughout the country, according to estimates by top refiner Indian Oil. GAIL is looking for land in the coastal region of Dabhol in Maharashtra for the 1.5 million tonne per year cracker project and intends to import ethane from the US for the scheme.

The company is also exploring the possibility of acquiring land in Madhya Pradesh, which borders Maharashtra, if a deal in Dabhol fails to materialise. The proposed dual-feed cracker will also have the ability to crack up to 40% liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), allowing the option to switch to a less expensive feedstock to maximise margins.

India's per capita petrochemical consumption is around one-third of the global average, with Asia's third-largest economy consuming 25 million to 30 million tonne of petrochemicals annually.

Also read:
Tata Power’s TP Saurya signs solar project in Rajasthan
Rajasthan seeks bids for KUSUM Program-Eligible 452 MW solar projects

Building Material

11 Dec 2025

Suraj Estate Wins Euromoney Award for India’s Best Residential Developer

"Suraj Estate Developers Limited has received the Euromoney Real Estate Award 2025 for ‘India’s Best Residential Developer’, positioning the company among globally benchmarked leaders in the sector. The recognition reflects its four-decade legacy in delivering high-quality residential and redevelopment-led projects across South Central Mumbai. The Euromoney Real Estate Awards, presented by the London-based Euromoney magazine, are widely regarded as one of the most credible global assessments of performance in real estate, banking and finance. Winners are selected through surveys of inte..

Lloyds Metals, Tata Steel Sign MoU to Explore Strategic Collaboration

"Lloyds Metals and Energy Limited has signed a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding with Tata Steel Limited to evaluate potential areas of strategic cooperation across mining, logistics, pelletisation and steelmaking. The MoU was signed by B Prabhakaran, Managing Director of Lloyds Metals, and Mr T V Narendran, CEO and Managing Director of Tata Steel. The partnership framework aims to leverage the natural operational synergies between both companies and assess opportunities in greenfield steel projects, iron ore mining, slurry pipeline infrastructure, pellet manufacturing in iron ore–ric..

IndiaAI, Gujarat Govt Host Regional Conclave Ahead of 2026 AI Summit

The IndiaAI Mission under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, along with the Government of Gujarat and IIT Gandhinagar, convened a Regional Pre-Summit Event at Mahatma Mandir, Gandhinagar. The initiative is part of the build-up to the India–AI Impact Summit 2026, scheduled for 15–20 February 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. The conclave brought together senior policymakers, technology leaders, researchers and industry practitioners to examine how AI can accelerate economic, digital and social transformation across sectors. The programme focused on the overarching th..