Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) has inked a long-term supply agreement with Air Products to secure the supply of hydrogen and nitrogen from the latter for its Barauni oil refinery in Bihar.

In this connection, Air Products will build, own and operate (BOO) a new industrial gases complex, which will produce hydrogen, nitrogen, and steam for the IOCL refinery.

The new industrial gas complex will help IOCL in expanding its capacity from six to nine million tonnes per annum to produce Euro-VI or BS-VI compliant gasoline and diesel at the Barauni oil refinery.

According to Air Products, the industrial gas complex will house the latest generation multi-feed hydrogen production facility that will produce 70,000 normal cubic meters per hour (Nm3/hr) of hydrogen and steam. It will also have an air separation unit that will yield 4,000 Nm3/hr of nitrogen.

Air Products expects to begin operations at the new industrial gas complex in 2024.

Dr. Samir J. Serhan — Air Products chief operating officer said: “We are honored to work with IOCL, the largest petroleum refining company and largest Public Sector Undertaking in India.

“As one of the fastest growing economies in the world, our latest strategic investment in India will provide an efficient combination of industrial gas production technologies, enabling IOCL to meet ever-increasing transportation fuel demand. We look forward to reliably supplying IOCL’s industrial gas needs for decades to come.”

Upon its completion, the project at the Barauni oil refinery will be Air Products’ second BOO complex in India after the Kochi Industrial Gas complex at BPCL Kochi oil refinery.

Juan Gonzalez — Air Products Middle East, Egypt, Turkey and India vice president, Large Project Business Development said: “We are proud to work with IOCL as they look to significantly expand their operations at Barauni. We look forward to bringing our global expertise, experience and world-class engineering capabilities to this project.”

  Air Products, Bihar, Dr. Samir J. Serhan, Hydrogen, India, Indian Oil Corporation, IOCL, Juan Gonzalez, nitrogen, steam