MCC to triple PTA production at Haldia plant by 2009: Shinjo Abe

Kolkata, Aug 23(UNI) The Indian unit of Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation will triple production of purified terphthalic acid(PTA), a key component for ployester, at its Haldia plant by 2009, Japanese Prime Minister Shinjo Abe today said.

" I understand that the Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation plant (in Haldia) will triple its production by 2009," Abe said after inaugurating the Rabindra-Okakura Bhavan, an Indo- Japan cultural centre in Salt Lake City.

The firm plans to set up its second plant at a cost of Rs 1,665 crore by 2008 to produce 800,000 tonnes per annum of PTA at Haldia.

The current plant has a capacity of 470,000 PTA, company sources said.

The turnover would shot up to Rs. 50,000 crore from the present Rs 20,000 crore, they said.

The sources said the company wanted to make the unit the world's largest in a single line capable of producing the best quality PTA.

Observing that Japan looked at West Bengal as the "Gateway to India", Mr Abe said his country expected the state to play a pivotal role in strengthening bilateral relations.

UNI