BPCL Mumbai Refinery Inaugurates Commercial Use of Indigenous FCC Bottoms Cracking Additive 'BHARAT BCA'

Mumbai, 19th October, 2024: Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL), a 'Maharatna' company, has proudly announced the commercialization of its indigenously developed FCC Bottoms Cracking Additive, “BHARAT BCA,” at the Mumbai Refinery. This innovation is a key step in BPCL’s commitment to sustainable and cost-effective refining technology.

The BHARAT BCA catalyst, developed by BPCL’s Corporate Research and Development Centre (CRDC), is engineered to optimize the conversion of heavy clarified oil, commonly known as "bottoms," into higher-value lighter products. This innovation delivers significant financial benefits by improving operational efficiency and reducing costs in the refining process.

Speaking at the event, Shri Abhai Raj Bhandari, Executive Director (Mumbai Refinery), stated, "The commercialization of BHARAT BCA reflects BPCL’s commitment to pioneering innovation and sustainable practices. This breakthrough will not only benefit our refinery but will also have a far-reaching impact across the industry as we continue to focus on cost-effective, eco-friendly solutions."

The formal launch of the BHARAT BCA catalyst was marked by the inauguration of the Catalyst Additive loader by the Executive Director (MR), Head of R&D, and Mr. Sunil Raut, who applauded the CRDC team for their outstanding efforts in achieving this significant milestone. They conveyed their aspirations for continued successes in the future. At this momentous occasion, CRDC and MR also acknowledged the development and commercialization of other indigenous catalysts at MR, including the CO combustion promoter additive, Gasoline sulfur reduction catalyst, and LOBS catalyst.

Shri N. Chandrasekhar, Head R&D, praised the efforts of the CRDC team, stating, “The BHARAT BCA catalyst is a testament to our in-house capabilities and collaborative efforts across departments. We are proud to have developed a solution that not only aligns with BPCL’s sustainability goals but also positions us at the forefront of refining technology.”

The inauguration event was led by Shri Abhai Raj Bhandari, Executive Director (Mumbai Refinery), and Shri N. Chandrasekhar, Head R&D, in the presence of senior officials from the refinery, including Mr. A R Chaudhary, CGM (Technology), Mr. KK. Das, CGM (Operations), Mr. M B Mate, CGM (Maintenance), Mr. DP Chandramore, CGM (CRPO), Mr. S.K. Shukla, GM (Manufacturing), Mr. S.S. Agrawal, GM (Technology), Mr. SN Kale, GM (Maintenance), Mr. Sunil Raut, DGM (Environment), Mr. N Mantri, DGM (CDU4 and CCR),  Mr KB Jaimon, DGM (operations), Mr Harish Lodwal, DGM (Maintenance), and Mr. SS Perumal, DGM (E&C). This was followed by a brief presentation on the journey of BHARAT BCA given by Dr. Chiranjeevi Thota, GM (R&D), Dr Supriyo Majumder, Manager (R&D) and Mr. Ajay Khande, Manager (R&D). The event was a proud moment for the entire team, celebrating a milestone that showcases BPCL’s expertise in indigenous catalyst development.

The journey of BHARAT BCA began in 2017, with a focus on developing a cost-effective catalyst for the Fluid Catalytic Cracking (FCC) process. Over the years, BPCL’s R&D team successfully scaled up production, culminating in the manufacture of 50 tons of the catalyst, which was officially introduced at the Mumbai Refinery. This “Made in India” product is now set for application in refineries across the country and beyond, further advancing India’s position in the global refining sector.

The introduction of BHARAT BCA follows BPCL’s successful development of other indigenous catalysts, including the CO combustion promoter additive, gasoline sulfur reduction catalyst, and LOBS catalyst. Together, these advancements highlight BPCL’s leadership in innovation and its commitment to delivering value through research-driven, environmentally sustainable products.

About Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd. (BPCL):

Fortune Global 500 Company, Bharat Petroleum is the second largest Indian Oil Marketing Company and one of the integrated energy companies in India, engaged in refining of crude oil and marketing of petroleum products, with presence in the upstream and downstream sectors of the oil and gas industry. The company attained the coveted Maharatna status, joining the club of companies having greater operational & financial autonomy.

Bharat Petroleum’s Refineries at Mumbai, Kochi and Bina have a combined refining capacity of around 35.3 MMTPA. Its marketing infrastructure includes a network of installations, depots, fuel stations, aviation service stations and LPG distributors. Its distribution network comprises over 22,000+ Fuel Stations, over 6,250 LPG distributorships, 525 Lubes distributorships, 123 POL storage locations, 54 LPG Bottling Plants, 63 Aviation Service Stations, 5 Lube blending plants and 4 cross-country pipelines as on 31.08.2024.

Bharat Petroleum is integrating its strategy, investments, environmental and social ambitions to move towards a sustainable planet. The company has chalked out the plan to offer electric vehicle charging stations at around 7000 Fuel Stations over next 5 years.

With a focus on sustainable solutions, the company is developing an ecosystem and a road-map to become a Net Zero Energy Company by 2040, in Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions. Bharat Petroleum has been partnering communities by supporting several initiatives connected primarily in the areas of education, water conservation, skill development, health, community development, capacity building and employee volunteering. With ‘Energising Lives’ as its core purpose, Bharat Petroleum’s vision is to be an admired global energy company leveraging talent, innovation & technology.