Date:17/01/2006 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2006/01/17/stories/2006011703000200.htm

Back Godrej ships out reactors for US refinery

Our Bureau

Mumbai , Jan. 16

GODREJ & Boyce Mfg Co Ltd said in a press release on Monday that its process equipment division has shipped out three thick walled reactors and two separators for the US based St Charles Refinery of the Valero Refining Company.

These reactors, valued at $15 million, bound for the US on a specially chartered big-lift shipping vessel, will form the cornerstone of the ultra low sulphur diesel upgrade being implemented at the refinery located in Norco, Louisiana.

On installation, they will enable the refinery to meet the mid 2006 deadline set by the Environment Protection Agency (EPA) for the production of diesel with 15 ppm sulphur content.

With a combined total weight of over 1,500 tonnes and a combined length of over 130 metres and with diameter of around 3.5 metres, these equipment constitute the largest shipment to be made out of Mumbai.

Mr Allen B. Antao, Vice-President and Business Head, Process Equipment Division, Godrej, said: "The successful execution of the Valero order has consolidated Godrej's position of being a premium fabricator of high end process equipment in a league constituted of only a handful of fabricators around the world. The company's process equipment division has been growing rapidly and is eyeing Rs 500 crore sales by 2008".

St Charles Refinery is the largest refinery in North America.

Godrej has recently bagged a $40 million order for the supply of equipment for GASCO, in Abu Dhabi.

The order to be executed by late 2007, would have Godrej manufacture some of the heaviest walled stainless steel equipment ever manufactured.