GUWAHATI: With speedy progress of work, the Brahmaputra Cracker and Polymer Ltd (BCPL) at Lepetkata in eastern Assam’s Dibrugrah district is scheduled to be commissioned by end of 2013.
Talking to media persons here on Friday, BCPL Chairman and GAIL (India) Ltd CMD BC Tripathi said the mechanical completion of the plant is expected by July, 2013, and first production will start from December, 2013.
He said the project activities at Lepetkata, Duliajan and Lakwa sites are in full swing and monthly work progress has been 2-2.5 per cent against 1-1.5 per cent a few months back.
” In the post-monsoon season, we have targeted monthly work progress at 3-3.5 per cent, ” he added.
Mr Tripathi said 56 per cent work progress had been achieved till July 15 last and equipment had already started arriving on the site.
He said purchase orders and contracts of value over Rs 7380 crore, including the critical items, had already been placed till July 15, 2011.
The placement of remaining orders and contracts is being expedited. The total capex incurred till July 15, 2011 is about Rs 2,497 crore and total expenditure planned for FY 2011-12 is Rs 3,215 crore, the BCPL chairman added.
Elaborating on the project development, Mr Tripathi said the project cost had been revised to Rs 8,879 crore from Rs 5,461 crore on account of technology/design changes, time escalation, increase in cost due to change in infrastructure, site condition and construction cost.
The same had been approved by Public Investment Bureau (PIB) and is expected to be approved by Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) soon, he added.
The capital subsidy component to be provided by the Central government is Rs 4690 crore as per the revised estimate.
Besides the GAIL, the other promoters had assured of looking into the proposal to revise upwards their share of equity in view of the revised estimate, Mr Tripathi said.
On manpower for the BCPL project, Mr Tripathi said the company has started to increase its own human capital base and adequate care is being taken in recruitment to have major representation of the local population.
” Most of the skilled/semi-skilled unskilled workers engaged in the construction work are from the Northeast, ” he added.
The BCPL is being set up under an equity arrangement of GAIL, OIL , Numaligarh Refinery Limited and government of Assam (10 per cent). (UNI)