PM Modi to inaugurate Karnataka's first seawater desalination plant

Mangaluru: The state’s first seawater desalination plant and mechanization of 14th Jetty at Mangalore port are among the important projects that would be formally inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to the city on September 2.

The Prime Minister is also scheduled to lay the foundation stone for several development projects of  New Mangalore Port Authority (NMPA).

Karnataka’s first desalination plant

Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd (MRPL) built the first desalination plant in the state after the severe water shortage in 2012-2017 and 2019. MRPL had to stop its production activities for 45 days in 2019, incurring a huge loss. The work started in the same year and the mechanical works of the project were completed by December 2021.

Presently the plant is supplying 30 Million Liters per Day (MLD) for MRPL’s use. Built at a cost of Rs 677 crores the plant will be expanded to 70 MLD capacity in the next phase.

Plant for BS6 grade fuel  

It has been two years since the nation switched to BS6 grade fuel, for which MRPL has upgraded its units for the production of this grade of fuel. These will also be officially launched by PM Modi. these units have been upgraded at a cost of Rs 1829 crores, sources said.

The Fluidized Catalytic Cracking Gasoline Treatment Unit (FGTU), a major component of BS6 fuel, was completed a few months ago. It has an annual production capacity of 800 kilotons.

BS6 fuel with sulfur content less than 10 ppm (parts per million) is more clean and eco-friendly. A sulfur recovery unit and a nitrogen plant have also been set up.