US speciality chemicals company Lubrizol (Wickliffe, Ohio; www.lubrizol.com) and India’s Grasim Industries (Mumbai, Maharashtra; www.grasim.com) said they have begun bulding a PVC-C plant in Vilayat in the state of Gujarat. The facility is expected to have a base polymer capacity of 100,000 t/y. Lubrizol is said to be contributing the production technology, with Grasim responsible for the actual production. 

Completion is set for 2025, when the plant is to be the largest single facility of its kind in the world. The material will primarily be used to meet demand for pipe applications in the country and neighbouring markets in Bangladesh and Indonesia. 

At the same time, Lubrizol said it is doubling capacity to 140,000 t/y at its compounding plant in Dahej, Gujarat, where the base polymer is to be processed . Commissioning of the plant is also planned for 2025,  and development centre is planned for the site. With the projects, Lubrizol said it intends to create a further 150 to 200 jobs.  

Grasim is part of Aditya Birla (Mumbai, Maharashtra, India; www.adityabirla.com), an industrial carbon black group worth billions. In addition to the chlor-alkali line, the product portfolio also includes cements, colours, yarns, and textiles.