Chennai Petroleum Corporation Limited (CPCL), a group company of Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL), India, has selected Axens to supply several advanced technologies for its state-of-the-art 9 MTPA refinery to be set at Cauvery Basin at Nagapattinam in Tamil Nadu (southern part of India).

CPCL’s Cauvery Basin Refinery (CBR) was commissioned in November 1993, to process Narimanam crude, initially with a capacity of 0.5 MMTPA further expanded to 1.0 MMTPA in 2002. CPCL is planning to expand the capacity of CBR by adding grassroots facilities at the same location of the existing refinery in Nagapattinam.

For over a decade, Axens has built a strong and trustful relationship with CPCL for its Manali Refinery (10.5 MMTPA), involved in technologies, catalysts and services supply and supporting it through different projects.

As part of this Cauvery Basin Refinery Project, Axens will provide the following technologies for:

  - 1 Naphtha Hydrotreating Unit
  - 1 Reforming unit (OctanizingTM)
  - 1 C5-C6 isomerization unit
  - 1 VGO (Vacuum Gasoil) Hydrotreater incorporating ZPJE spiraled tube heat exchangers technology that enables to achieve highest energy efficiency through heat recovery maximization.
  - 1 Cracked gasoline selective desulfurization (Prime-G+®) unit, and
  - 1 Sulfur block consisting of 2 trains of Claus unit and 2 trains of tail gas treatment unit (Sultimate™).

The scope of Axens’ work includes the supply of process book, catalysts & adsorbents proprietary equipment, trainings and technical services.

Axens’ Process Licensing Global Business Unit Executive Vice-President Patrick Sarrazin said: “Today marks a significant step towards the expansion of the CPCL’s Cauvery Basin Refinery. With these numerous advanced technologies, CPCL will be well positioned to supply the market with clean fuels reaching Bharat Stage VI (BS VI) specifications. Our extensive refining technology expertise, global capabilities in the basic design, catalysts, equipment and services supply position Axens ideally to deliver this important contract for CPCL.”

About Axens’ Technologies

Axens is recognized as a key global solutions provider in the Motor Spirit (MS) Block providing NHT, C5-C6 isomerization and reforming processes with the OctanizingTM Technology, combining proven and reliable technologies with advanced catalytic solutions to produce high quality gasoline components meeting the latest Bharat Stage VI gasoline specifications.

Prime-G+® is the worldwide technology leader for the selective desulfurization of FCC Gasoline, recognized worldwide for its best performances, innovative design and catalyst performances.

Axens’ VGO Hydrotreatment technology enables to desulfurize the VGO cut and reach the appropriate level of sulfur, hydrogen and nitrogen contents in order to maximize performance of the downstream catalytic cracking. With a complete portfolio, Axens proposes a combination of a smart design and optimized catalyst solutions.

Axens offers different advanced and proprietary solutions for sulfur recovery through its acquisition of Prosernat extending its wide processing technologies portfolio and adding more than 450 industrial references in Oil and Gas.

About Axens

Axens is a group providing a complete range of solutions for the conversion of oil and biomass to cleaner fuels, the production and purification of major petrochemical intermediates as well as all of natural gas' treatment and conversion options. The offer includes technologies, equipment, furnaces, modular units, catalysts, adsorbents and related services. Axens is ideally positioned to cover the entire value chain, from feasibility study to unit start-up and follow-up throughout the entire unit cycle life. This unique position ensures the highest level of performance with a reduced environmental footprint. Axens global offer is based on highly trained human resources, modern production facilities and an extended global network for industrial, technical supports & commercial services. Axens is an IFP Group company.

About Chennai Petroleum Corporation Limited

Chennai Petroleum Corporation Limited (CPCL), one of the leading group companies of IndianOil’s, was conceived in 1960s as a 2.5 million metric tonnes per annum (MMTPA) refinery designed to produce fuels and lubes base stock. At CPCL, the past five decades have an eventful, growth-oriented phase as the CPCL family built the organisation to reach the present stature of 10.5 MMTPA capacity.

About Indian Oil Corporation Limited

With a 33,000-plus work-force, extensive refining, distribution & marketing infrastructure and advanced R&D facilities, IndianOil has been providing energy access to millions of people across the length and breadth of the country through its ever-expanding network of customer touch points, currently numbering over 50,000. With a turnover of Rs. 6,05,924 crore and a net profit of Rs. 16,894 crore for the fiscal 2018-19, IndianOil is one the largest and most trusted corporate in the Country, touching the lives of over a billion Indians.