CHENNAI, March 3: India's first catalytic convertor plant, coming up at Maraimalai Nagar, near Chennai, is set to go on stream in September, 1998.Engelhard Environmental Systems (India) Ltd, (EESIL) a 70:30 joint venture between the $3.2 billion Engelhard Corporation and the Chennai-based Ucal Fuel Systems Ltd has already commenced work on the project.
This is Engelhard's second major project in the country.
The US-based Fortune 500 company will invest $10 million in the first phase of its investment planed in India.
The Maraimalai Nagar plant is expected to produce 80,000 catalysts in the first year of operation and will have the capability to service the requirements of over four lakh auto catalysts and one million two-wheeler catalysts by the year 2000.
The company, it is learnt, has already received letters of intent from some key customers in India.
The plant will enable EESIL to manufacture the entire range of convertors including those for diesel and well as two-wheeler catalysts as andwhen the market for the products in India develops.
The joint venture is likely to be the first in a series of new technologies Engelhard plans to bring to India.
Retrofitment of diesel vehicles to control emissions from old buses and trucks is one such possibility.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
