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 FEEDSTOCK SOURCING  EXPANDING PRESENCE
 Surplus rice crop to help sustain domestic ethanol   NMDC’s new Dubai offi ce to aid critical mineral

 production  acquisitions


 India is allocating record rice volumes   NMDC, India’s largest iron ore pro-  scouting mineral assets, conducting  rations in Mining Equipment and Tech-
 for ethanol production as it struggles with   ducer, is exploring acquisition  oppor-  technical due diligence, and facilitating  nology Services (METS),” the state-
 unprecedented inventories that are likely   tunities for critical minerals in Africa,  engagements with government bodies,  ment added. In April, NMDC Chairman
 to swell further with the arrival of the new   Australia and South America, as part  business partners, and research institu-  Amitava Mukherjee said the miner was
 season crop, a reversal from earlier short-  of  its  global  mineral  diversifi cation  tions.   looking at Africa for lithium, iron ore,
 ages that led to export curbs.  strategy.                                copper and  cobalt as  well as  explor-
                                           By  providing real-time market in-  ing coking coal assets in Indonesia and
 Turning more rice to ethanol is help-  The company recently opened an  telligence and timely decision support,  Australia.  Last  year,  India’s  Secretary
 ing to reduce rice stocks in the world’s   offi  ce  in  Dubai  that  will  track  mineral  the offi  ce will enable NMDC’s leader-  of  Mines  V.L.  Kantha  Rao  said  that
 biggest producer and exporter of the grain   sector developments in  Africa and  ship to respond swiftly to global oppor-  NMDC and Coal India were exploring
 and keeping India’s ambitious ethanol   Australia, and focus on scouting mineral  tunities.   lithium mines in Chile and Australia. In
 blending programme on track despite a  marketing year ending in June. In the  grains as feedstock, switching between   assets and conducting due diligence, it   2023,  NMDC’s  unit  Legacy  Iron  Ore
 drop in supplies of traditional feedstock,  previous year, less than 3,000-tonnes of  them depending on price.  said in a statement.  Additionally, it will help build a  had  signed  a  lithium  exploration pact
 sugarcane.  FCI rice went into ethanol.  reliable network for confi dential insights  with  Australia’s Hancock Prospecting
 India aims to increase the blending of   “The  Dubai  offi  ce  will  focus  on  on peer companies and explore collabo-  Pty. Ltd.
 In March, India removed the last of   FCI buys nearly half of India’s rice  ethanol into gasoline to 20% by 2025/26.
 roughly two years of restrictions on rice  crop and currently has reserves, including  In May, it nearly hit that target, reaching   Cummins India launches battery energy storage
 exports, which had been prompted by  unmilled paddy, of a record 59.5-mt on  19.8% ethanol, thanks to plentiful rice.
 poor rains that curtailed production. This  June 1, far exceeding the government’s   systems
 year’s ample monsoon rains are poised to  target of 13.5-mt for July 1.  The 20% goal had appeared to be
 deliver an abundant harvest.   beyond reach when sugarcane supplies,   Cummins India, a leading power solu-
 The availability of rice for ethanol  which accounted for 80% of ethanol   tions technology provider, has announced
 The state-run Food Corporation of  has taken pressure off  corn prices, which  feedstock until three years ago, tumbled   the launch of its Battery Energy Storage
 India (FCI) has allocated a record 5.2-mt  jumped to record high last years, forcing  because of drought in 2023, forcing the   Systems (BESS), expanding its sustain-
 of rice for ethanol, equivalent to nearly 9%  record imports by India. Grain-based dis-  country to sharply reduce diversion of   able solutions portfolio.
 of global rice shipments in the 2024/25  tilleries use corn, rice and damaged food  sugar for ethanol.
          BESS is emerging as reliable and effi  -
 STRENGTHENING LUBRICANT PORTFOLIO  cient technology for addressing the energy
 Shell Lubricants closes acquisition of Raj Petro   transition requirements of key industries   and optimise energy costs through peak  customers are increasingly seeking smarter
       such as manufacturing, data centres, com-
 Specialities  mercial realty, and mining. These systems  shaving and energy shifting.  ways to manage energy costs and im-
       enable seamless integration of clean, re-
                                                                          prove power quality. Backed by our global
       newable, and intermittent energy sources   Pankaj Kapoor,  Vice President,  expertise, Cummins’ BESS solutions are
 Shell Lubricants has completed the  mer base in India, which is one of its  ket by supplying customers in the power   like solar and wind with the existing power  Distribution  Business,  Cummins  India,  built to address these evolving needs while
 acquisition of  Raj Petro  Specialities,  key growth markets,” Shell Lubricants  transmission, personal care and pharma-  infrastructure. This ensures that customers  commented, “As the demand for reliable  supporting our customer’s sustainability
 strengthening its  lubricants portfolio  said in a statement.  ceutical  sectors, as well  as helping to   can maximise renewable energy use  power continues to grow across industries,  goals.”
 and customer base, the company said.  realise new synergies and economies of
 Raj Petro, which has manufacturing  scale across the lubricants value chain,”   Tanfac commissions solar grade DHF plant
 Without disclosing fi nancial details  facilities at Chennai and Silvassa, off ers  the statement said.
 of the transaction, Shell said it has  a wide range of products – from trans-  Tanfac Industries – a joint venture  the approval of the trial production quality  for the solar energy industry. The company
 acquired  100% equity interest  in Raj  former oil to petroleum jellies, white   The addition of Raj Petro Specia-  company promoted by the  Anupam  by one of India’s major solar energy pro-  is  currently implementing  the  second
 Petro Specialities Pvt. Ltd. from German  oils,  waxes and lubricants.  The more  lities will help maximise value for Shell   Rasayan and the Tamil Nadu Industrial  ducers, confi rming that the product meets  phase of the project, which aims to ex-
 chemicals  distribution  fi rm,  Brenntag.  than 80-year-old Mumbai-headquar-  through a complementary product port-  Development Corporation (TIDCO) – has  their stringent quality requirements. This  pand the total solar grade DHF capacity
 “The acquisition  of Raj Petro Specia-  tered fi rm was acquired by Brenntag in  folio and increased scale of business,”   successfully commissioned its 5,000-tpa  milestone marks Tanfac as the fi rst Indian  to 10,000-tpa. This expansion is expected
 lities  supports  Shell  Lubricants  as  it  2017-18. “The  transaction  strengthens  said  Jason  Wong,  Shell’s Executive   solar  grade  Dilute  Hydrofl uoric  Acid  chemical company to commission a solar  to be commissioned within the next three
 strives to grow its portfolio and custo-  Shell Lubricants’ presence in the mar-  Vice President for Global Lubricants.  (DHF) plant. The commissioning follows  grade DHF plant, a critical raw material  months.


 138  Chemical Weekly  July 8, 2025  Chemical Weekly  July 8, 2025                                     139


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