Page 148 - CW E-Magazine (10-10-2023)

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OBITUARY EVENT ANNOUNCEMENT

Indian chelating industry pioneer, Mohan Bhatia, EOAI to organise aroma ingredients congress and

passes away at 87 expo at Chennai in February 2024

Mr. Mohan Bhatia, a visionary played a key role in promoting the The Essential Oil Association of ment of North Eastern Region, recog-
entrepreneur and philanthropist, left use of chelating agents in India. India (EOAI) is organising the 25th nised the event as a stepping stone
for his heavenly abode on 10th Sep- edition of the ‘World Aroma Ingredi- to elevate India’s economy.
tember, 2023. He was a pioneer in Under his leadership, AVA Chemi- ents Congress & Expo 2024’ at Chen-
the Indian chelating industry, and cals grew from being a single-plant nai from 8 to 10 February 2024. The “This event, under the visionary gui-
was often fondly called as the ‘EDTA company to multi-product, multi- expo at Chennai is expected to bring dance of PM Narendra Modi’s Aroma
wala’. plant company. He oversaw the ex- together industry leaders from around Mission, showcases EOAI’s dedication
pansion of AVA Chemicals’ product the world to discuss the latest trends to championing India’s aroma indus-
After earning his Master of Science portfolio to include fi ne chemicals and innovations in essential oils and try,” said EOAI’s President Mr. Sanjay
degree in Chemistry from Jai Hind and excipients, to become a leading fragrances. Over 1,500 delegates are Varshney, while introducing the theme
College Mumbai, he began his career manufacturer of chelating agents and expected to attend the event. for the event – ‘India- Global Hub for
as a medical representative at Blue- fi ne chemicals. Today, the company Essential Oils, Fragrances & Flavors’.
cross Labs Ltd., where he worked for exports its products to over 50 coun- The Association organised a ‘Cur-
two years. Later he joined Pfi zer Ltd., tries and employs over 100 people. tain Raiser’ ceremony for the bi-annual EOAI was founded in 1956 as an
where he worked in various depart- aroma ingredients event in Noida Mr. B. L. Verma, Minister of State for organisation of scientists, researchers,
ments, including Production Planning & him the moniker of ‘EDTA wala’ – a In addition to his business achieve- recently. Speaking at the ‘Curtain Co-operation and Development of North industrialists, traders, manufacturers,
Inventory Control (PPIC). After two title he wore with pride. ments, Mr. Bhatia was a generous Raiser’, Mr. B. L. Verma, Minister of Eastern Region with Mr. Sanjay Varshney, exporters, importers and farmers in the
decades at Pfi zer, Mr. Bhatia decided supporter of a variety of charities and State for Co-operation and Develop- President, EOAI. fi eld of essential oils.
to start his own chemical manufactur- He was also a pioneer in the manu- educational institutions. He was also PROJECT UPDATE
ing company. facturing of other amine-based pro- a strong believer in giving back to the
ducts in India such as nitrilotriacetic community, and he was actively in- Essar Group’s EET Hydrogen initiates FEED for UK
In 1985, Mr. Bhatia founded acid (NTA) and diethylenetriamine volved in a number of social welfare
AVA Chemicals Pvt. Ltd. with the penta-acetic acid (DTPA) and their initiatives. hydrogen plant
goal of domestically manufacturing derivatives. These products are used
a range of EDTA (ethylene diamine in a variety of industries, includ- A visionary entrepreneur, a doyen Essar Group-led EET Hydrogen The HPP2 is a catalyst for invest- hydrogen production project in the UK,
tetraacetic acid) products, for which ing agrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, in the chelating industry, and a philan- has commenced the Front End Engi- ment across the UK North-West for in- the company said. “We have made huge
India was completely dependent on home & personal care, water treat- thropist, Mr. Bhatia’s legacy will con- neering & Design (FEED) of its 1,000 frastructure that will transport and store progress since launching our hydrogen
imports. ment and oil & gas. tinue to inspire future generations of megawatt (MW) hydrogen production hydrogen and for industrial and power business last year and the natural next
entrepreneurs and philanthropists. plant in the UK. generation customers who will switch step is for EET Hydrogen to become a
He was one of the fi rst to re- Mr. Bhatia’s contributions to the to this low-carbon fuel. This will deliver standalone business to capitalise on the
verse-engineer the manufacturing chelating industry were not limited He will be remembered by his “EET Hydrogen is delighted to the fi rst low carbon hydrogen to refi ning, huge opportunities we see. This paves
process for EDTA, making it possible to his manufacturing prowess. He family and those who knew him as a announce that its HPP2 production pro- glass and chemicals manufacturing sites the way for future growth of our hydro-
for India to produce its own chelating was also a strong advocate for the true pioneer, for his contributions to ject has commenced FEED. At up to in the world. gen platform as we move from ambi-
agents. This breakthrough revolutio- industry’s development in India. He the development of the Indian chelat- 1,000-MW capacity the plant is expected tion to action,” EET Hydrogen’s CEO
nised the Indian chelating industry. was actively involved in trade asso- ing industry, and his spirit of gene- to be the largest in the UK and one of the The HPP2 will be adjacent to the Mr. Joe Seifert said.
His expertise and dedication earned ciations and industry bodies, and he rosity. largest in the world and will produce some HPP1 plant, benefi ting from the syn-
230,000 tonnes of low carbon hydrogen ergies Besides, the Essar Group fi rm EET Hydrogen will provide a plat-
every year for local industrial and power also changed its brand name from Ver- form for growth with an ambition to
ONGC inks MoU with NTPC Green Energy generation customers,” the company said. tex Hydrogen to Essar Energy Transi- deliver around 4GW of low-carbon
This follows from HPP1 (350 MW capa- tion (EET) Hydrogen and it intends to hydrogen by 2030, around 40 percent
Oil and Natural Gas Corporation up of renewable energy projects in projects and exploring opportunities in city plant), which was completed FEED move from being a subsidiary of Essar of the UK government’s national target.
(ONGC) has inked a Memorandum various domains. The MoU envisages the storage, e-mobility, carbon credits in September 2021 and was selected by Oil UK (EOUK) to a sister company of Essar founded Vertex Hydrogen (VHL)
of Understanding (MoU) with NTPC collaboration of the two mega entities and green credits, nuclear, green hydro- the UK government in March 2023 as EOUK. This change is a natural progres- with Progressive Energy (PEL) in Janu-
Green Energy Ltd. (NGEL) to prima- in renewable power projects in India gen and its derivatives (green ammonia one of two initial large low carbon hydro- sion in the development of the company ary 2022 as an operating subsidiary
rily explore the feasibility and setting and overseas through offshore wind and green methanol) business. gen plants in the UK, it added. from an early-stage idea into the leading held 90 percent by EOUK.

148 Chemical Weekly October 10, 2023 Chemical Weekly October 10, 2023 149

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