Page 173 - CW E-Magazine (19-9-2023)

Special Report

11TH INDIA INTERNATIONAL PHOSGENE SAFETY CONFERENCE

Indian phosgene manufacturers review safety

systems with international experts

hosgene is an important build-
ing block for the manufacture of
Pseveral commodity, fi ne and spe-
ciality chemicals, and India has a size-
able phosgene industry that supports the
manufacture of polyurethanes, agro-
chemicals, pharmaceuticals and fi ne
chemicals.

Demand for phosgene is expected
to grow at or above overall growth rates
for the chemical industry here and this
poses challenges stemming primarily
from the fact that phosgene is a highly
toxic gas that needs to be handled with
exceptional care and diligence at the
points of consumption and handling.

Thankfully, there is considerable
expertise available globally on safety the global giants – BASF, Covestro
best-practices, and importantly, a will- and Huntstman, which make PU raw
ingness to share these learnings. In materials and/or polycarbonate resin.
India, the producers and consumers of All of them are based on Gujarat, but
phosgene have come together to form that will change soon as the contract
the Indian Phosgene Council (IPC), manufacturing company, Deccan Fine
which is mainly focussed on know- Chemicals Ltd., based in Hyderabad,
ledge dissemination, particular on is building a phosgene plant in Andhra
matters related to safety. Pradesh.

As part of its activities, IPC orga- Emphasis on safe and sustainable
nised the ‘11th India International Mr. Bavanji Vekariya growth
Phosgene Safety Conference’ in Vado- between the manufacturers of phosgene Speaking at the inauguration of the
dara on August 31, which event saw in India, and the international phosgene event, Mr. Ravi Kapoor, Chairman,
record attendance of about 200. Speak- community, and in the interactions with
ers to the event came from the member nodal agencies,” he observed.
companies here as well as international
experts from global majors (some of The current members of the IPC
whom participated online). are Gujarat Narmada Fertiliser Com-
pany (GNFC), which is the largest
According to Mr. Bavanji Vekariya, producer (and consumer) of phosgene,
Chairman, IPC, and Head, Ankleshwar by virtue by being the only producer
Site, Covestro, IPC, which was formed of toluene diisocyanate (TDI), a raw
in 2014, is the fi rst council focussing material for polyurethanes (PU); do-
on just one toxic chemical. “The aim mestic fi ne chemical producers – Atul
is to maintain consistency in practices Ltd., Paushak Ltd., and UPL Ltd.; and Mr. Ravi Kapoor

Chemical Weekly September 19, 2023 173

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