Page 152 - CW E-Magazine (11-2-2025)

Pharmaceuticals Hydrocarbons

TRADING TROUBLES DEMAND TRENDS
Biocon Biologics sees limited risks from US Jet fuel consumption jumps in January driven

localisation drive by Maha Kumbh

The pro-localisation policy in the US tained growth in the Mediterranean and Quarter performance Domestic jet fuel consumption hit an December last year, when jet fuel usage biggest gathering of people professing to
will not impact Biocon Biologics’ reve- UK-Nordics clusters, he noted. Additio- Meanwhile, Biocon Biologics all-time high for the second consecutive hit 778,000 tonnes as the year-end holiday a single faith in one place, commenced
on January 13, and will run till February
month during January 2025, as the Maha
season boosted both international and
nue, according to Mr. Shreehas Tambe, nally, Biocon Biologics is experienc- reported a profi t after tax (PAT) of Kumbh Mela helped maintain the rising domestic travel. Prior to this, ATF con- 26, 2025. More than 45 crore devotees,
the company’s CEO. The US, which ing positive traction in the Japanese and Rs. 25-crore for the quarter ended momentum of domestic and international sumption had hit a high of 757,000 tonnes including 15 lakh foreigners, are expected
contributes 40% of the company’s reve- Australian markets through its commer- December 31, a 96% decline compared travel. during October 2024 and 758,000 tonnes to visit Prayagraj, where the Maha Kumbh
nue has a limited risk due to Biocon’s cial partner, the company said. to Rs. 660-crore in the same quarter last during March 2024. Barring March 2024, is held once every 12 years. Jet fuel con-
Biologics’ market diversifi cation, coupled year. After adjusting for exceptional According to the Petroleum Planning month-wise ATF consumption during sumption is expected to grow at almost
with the company’s strategy of hiring On trade tariffs, he stated that, “Our items, profi t stood at Rs. 13-crore. and Analysis Cell (PPAC), India’s aviation October 2024 to January 2025 has hit 10% annually in FY26, which is the
internationally, Mr. Tambe said. “In the intent is to bring affordability and broaden turbine fuel (ATF) usage rose by almost record highs, with the average usage highest among all refi ned petroleum pro-
US, we have a large workforce of access to patients in America. We believe The company stated that last year’s 9% Y-o-Y to a record 780,000 tonnes in standing at around 765,000 tonnes. ducts, barring natural gas. PPAC expects
Americans, and we operate as a local the US administration is also focused on profi ts were attributed to a one-time January. India’s ATF usage to grow by 9.82%
company,” he added. lowering healthcare costs. In that sense, gain from Bicara and income from Maha Kumbh in FY26 to 9.95-mt, against a revised
our exposure is limited, as our intent and Biocon Biologics’ partial divestment The previous high was recorded in Maha Kumbh, considered the world’s estimate of 9.06-mt in FY25.
The company has observed sus- objectives are well aligned.” of the BFI business.
BOOSTING INNOVATION & ENTREPRENEURSHIP
LEADERSHIP CHANGES GAIL raises start-up corpus fund to Rs. 500-crore
Roche Pharma India appoints Rajwinder Mehdwan GAIL (India) Ltd. has announced a energy, renewables, energy storage, elec- an environment of innovation and sus-

as country General Manager signifi cant increase in its ‘Start-up Invest- tric mobility and digital transformation tainability in India’s energy and techno-
logy sectors.” GAIL had launched its
etc. Mr. Sandeep Kumar Gupta, C&MD,
ment Fund’, increasing the corpus to be
Roche Pharma India, the local Ms. Mehdwan will be replacing Mr. V. will also join the CEETRIS (Central invested in start-ups from Rs. 100-crore to GAIL said, “By increasing our start-up ambitious start-up initiative ‘Pankh’ in
investment fund to Rs. 500-crore, we aim
Rs. 500-crore.
July’ 2017 to invest in promising start-
unit of Swiss drug major, Roche, has Simpson Emmanuel, who has served as Eastern Europe, Turkey, Russia & Indian to provide greater fi nancial and strate- ups. Till date, GAIL has made invest-
announced the appointment of Ms. general manager since 2020. Roche said Subcontinent) region leadership team, The increased fund will be deployed gic support to entrepreneurs working on ments in 36 start-ups operating in various
Rajwinder (Rajji) Mehdwan as country Mr. Emmanuel will be stepping down reporting to Francois du Toit, Area head for nurturing promising start-ups across breakthrough ideas. This initiative under- areas including CBG, electric mobility,
General Manager, effective April 1, 2025. due to personal reasons. Ms. Mehdwan of CEETRIS, Roche Pharmaceuticals. various sectors, with focus on clean scores GAIL’s commitment in fostering IoT, logistics and environment etc.
Lupin’s US facility completes FDA inspection PMC SERVICES
EIL secures HPCL modernisation project contract
with no observations Engineers India Ltd. (EIL) has (HPCL) to provide project manage- upgradation (LMBU) project which

Mumbai-based pharma major, (USA). The inspection was carried out Lupin said, “The successful out- secured a Rs. 222-crore contract from ment consultancy (PMC) services for is scheduled for completion within 36
Lupin, has announced that the US FDA from January 28 to February 1, 2025, come of the US FDA inspection at our Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd. HPCL’s lube modernisation and bottom months.
has completed a Pre-Approval Inspec- and concluded with zero 483 observa- Somerset facility is a testament to our West Bengal Government explores coal gasification
tion (PAI) of Edaravone oral suspen- tions. commitment to uphold and maintain
sion, 105-mg/5-mL at its manufactur- the highest standards of quality, com- in Deocha-Pachami block
ing facility in Somerset, New Jersey Mr. Nilesh Gupta, Managing Director, pliance and safety across our facilities.”
The West Bengal government is WBPDCL is the executing possibilities and have already held several
Sun Pharma elevates Aalok Shanghvi as COO exploring underground coal gasifi cation agency for mining at the Deocha- meetings with Indian and foreign experts,”
in the 30% of the Deocha-Pachami block, Pachami coal block in Birbhum district he said. “According to our plan, 30% of
Sun Pharma has announced that it has Executive Vice-President, emerging mar- marketing, R&D, project management, where traditional open-cast and under- of the state. The rest of the block, consi- the coal deposit will be extracted through
designated Mr. Aalok Shanghvi as Chief kets, global generic R&D, global busi- purchase & communications. In 2014, ground mining methods are unfeasible, dered India’s largest and the world’s open-cast mining, 40% through under-
Operating Offi cer of the company. Aalok, ness development (generics), operations he became the head of Emerging Mar- Mr. P.B. Salim, Managing Director, West second-largest coal reserve, will be ope- ground mining, and the remaining 30%
son of Mr. Dilip Shanghvi, promoter and active pharmaceutical ingredients kets business, spread across 80 countries Bengal Power Development Corporation rated through open-cast and underground via gasifi cation. Gasifi cation is the only
and Managing Director of Sun Pharma, (API) business. Aalok joined Sun Pharma covering Africa, the Middle East, APAC, Ltd. (WBPDCL) was quoted as saying mining, he said. “We are seriously way to tap the full potential of this mega
is currently the whole-time Director and in 2006 and has handled various roles in Eastern Europe, CIS, and Latam. in a PTI report. exploring underground coal gasifi cation coal block,” he added.

152 Chemical Weekly February 11, 2025 Chemical Weekly February 11, 2025 153

Contents Index to Advertisers Index to Products Advertised