BASF commissioned the steam cracker at its newly built Verbund site in Zhanjiang, South China, completing the start-up as scheduled. Notably, the facility is the first steam cracker globally to operate its main compressors entirely on 100 per cent renewable energy, using electrically driven compressors (eDrives).

Steam Cracker Forms the Core of the Verbund

As the heart of the Verbund concept, the steam cracker supplies essential base chemicals, including ethylene and propylene, to multiple downstream plants at the site. In this process, steam cracks long-chain hydrocarbons such as naphtha or butane, forming the starting point for numerous chemical value chains. The Zhanjiang cracker has an ethylene production capacity of one million metric tonnes per year.

Strengthening BASF’s Value Chains in China

Dr Stephan Kothrade, Member of the Board of Executive Directors of BASF SE and Chief Technology Officer, said the commissioning significantly strengthens BASF’s diversified value chains in China. He added that the project positions the company to better support customers across a wide range of industries.

Downstream Plants Brought Online

In parallel with the cracker start-up, BASF safely commenced operations at several downstream facilities. Following the recent start-up of propylene-based units, the company has now brought plants producing ethylene oxide, ethylene glycol, and polyethylene into operation, further integrating the site’s production network.

Model for Sustainable Production

Once fully developed, Zhanjiang will become BASF’s third-largest Verbund site worldwide, after Ludwigshafen in Germany and Antwerp in Belgium. Moreover, the site is designed to serve as a benchmark for sustainable chemical production in China and globally. For instance, BASF will supply the site with electricity sourced entirely from renewable energy.

Serving China’s Growing Chemical Market

As per the press release, products from the Zhanjiang Verbund site will primarily cater to customers in China, the world’s largest and fastest-growing chemical market. Through this strategic investment, BASF aims to strengthen its long-term presence in the region while advancing sustainable manufacturing practices.

Scientists at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati developed a novel photocatalytic material that uses sunlight to convert carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions into methanol fuel. The innovation addresses two pressing challenges at once—reducing greenhouse gas emissions and meeting rising energy demand driven by continued reliance on fossil fuels. Details of the research have been published in the Journal of Materials Science.

Targeting Emissions Through Clean Fuel Conversion

Mahuya De, Professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering at IIT Guwahati, highlighted the environmental burden of petroleum-based fuels. She noted that persistent dependence on fossil fuels continues to accelerate CO₂ emissions and global warming. Consequently, the research team focused on designing photocatalytic systems that can convert carbon dioxide into cleaner fuels using renewable solar energy.

Graphitic Carbon Nitride at the Core

At the heart of the innovation is graphitic carbon nitride, a non-toxic, metal-free, and cost-effective material. The researchers selected this compound for its stability and suitability for large-scale applications, making it a promising candidate for practical emission reduction technologies in industrial environments.

Overcoming Limitations of Earlier Systems

Earlier photocatalytic approaches have struggled with rapid energy loss and low conversion efficiency, limiting their real-world usefulness. To overcome these challenges, the IIT Guwahati team integrated graphitic carbon nitride with few-layer graphene. Thanks to its high electrical conductivity and excellent charge transfer capability, graphene helped the catalyst retain energy more effectively during the reaction process.

Enhanced Performance Under Sunlight

During testing, the composite catalyst—particularly the formulation containing 15 percent graphene by weight—demonstrated superior charge separation and higher energy retention under sunlight. As a result, the system converted CO₂ into methanol with significantly improved efficiency. Moreover, the catalyst maintained stable performance over extended periods, indicating strong potential for continuous operation and industrial-scale deployment.

Applications Across Carbon-Intensive Industries

According to De, the technology could be deployed across several carbon-intensive sectors, including thermal power plants, cement manufacturing units, steel production facilities, and petrochemical refineries. By converting emissions into usable fuel, the process supports the shift toward a circular carbon economy and a cleaner energy future.

Next Steps Toward Scale-Up

As reported by indiatoday.in, the research team plans to scale up the process and develop a robust system capable of continuously converting CO₂ emissions into methanol using sunlight. De emphasised that the work contributes to both environmental mitigation and green energy generation, adding that solar-driven CO₂-to-fuel conversion represents a promising pathway toward sustainable industrial development.

India is taking a decisive step toward sustainable infrastructure by adopting a new road construction material derived from agricultural waste. Union Minister of State for Science and Technology Dr Jitendra Singh announced that the country has officially entered the era of “Clean, Green Highways” with the launch of indigenous bio-bitumen technology for road building.

Indigenous Innovation Moves from Lab to Road

The milestone follows the successful technology transfer of “Bio-Bitumen via Pyrolysis: From Farm Residue to Roads,” an innovation developed by premier research institutions including CSIR–Central Road Research Institute (CSIR-CRRI) and CSIR–Indian Institute of Petroleum (CSIR-IIP). This transfer now enables the technology to move from research laboratories to large-scale commercial application.

Turning Farm Waste into Road-Building Material

At the core of this innovation lies pyrolysis, a process that converts agricultural residue such as paddy straw into valuable products. By breaking down biomass at high temperatures in the absence of oxygen, scientists produce a bio-binder that can partially or fully replace conventional petroleum-based bitumen. As a result, the new bio-bitumen offers a more affordable, durable, and environmentally friendly alternative for road construction.

Successful Highway Trial Demonstrates Viability

To demonstrate real-world applicability, researchers have already laid a 100-metre trial stretch using bio-bitumen on the Jorabat–Shillong Expressway (NH-40) in Meghalaya. The pilot project confirms the material’s performance under actual traffic and climatic conditions, paving the way for wider adoption across the national highway network.

Patent Filed, Industry Partnerships Taking Shape

According to N Kalaiselvi, Director General of CSIR and Secretary, a patent has been filed for the bio-bitumen technology. Moreover, several industry partners have already been engaged to support commercial deployment. As noted in an official statement from the Ministry of Science and Technology, these collaborations will help accelerate scaling and integration into mainstream road construction practices.

Environmental and Economic Benefits Combined

Beyond infrastructure, bio-bitumen delivers significant environmental gains. By utilising crop residue, the technology directly addresses stubble burning, a major contributor to air pollution in northern India. At the same time, it supports economic self-reliance by reducing dependence on imported petroleum-based bitumen.

Value-Added By-Products Expand Impact

In addition to bio-bitumen, the pyrolysis process generates valuable by-products, including energy-rich gas and high-grade carbon. These materials hold potential applications across sectors such as battery manufacturing, water purification, and advanced materials, further enhancing the technology’s overall value proposition.

As reported by firstpost.com, through this innovation, India not only becomes the first country to produce indigenous bio-bitumen but also sets a global benchmark for integrating sustainability, waste management, and infrastructure development.

Teknovace, one of India’s fastest-growing premium wood coatings companies, entered into a strategic partnership with Germany-based specialty chemicals major Remmers Gruppe SE. The alliance involves a foreign strategic investment of ₹300 crore and aims to position India as a global manufacturing and export hub for advanced and sustainable wood coatings.

Remmers to Acquire Majority Stake

Remmers will acquire a 50.01 percent stake in Teknovace through two tranches. Notably, this transaction ranks among the largest overseas investments in India’s wood coatings segment. Through this majority holding, Remmers will actively participate in shaping the company’s long-term strategy and global integration.

Targeting a High-Growth Domestic Market

At the same time, the partnership is focused on capturing opportunities in India’s rapidly expanding wood coatings market, currently valued at around $1.3 billion and projected to grow at nearly 11 percent annually. The alliance combines local manufacturing strengths with global technology. It aims to accelerate penetration in the premium and high-performance coatings segment.

Strong Growth Track Record

Founded in 2019, Teknovace has scaled quickly in a competitive market. Since inception, the company has delivered an average annual growth rate of 43 per cent and reported revenues of ₹57.1 crore in FY25. Currently, it operates two manufacturing facilities with a combined capacity of 6,000 tonnes per annum, serving customers across multiple regions.

Capacity Expansion and Technology Investments Planned

The fresh capital infusion will support a significant expansion of Teknovace’s manufacturing and technology footprint. Planned investments include scaling production capacity to 60,000 tons per annum and setting up UV coatings and resin manufacturing units. The company also plans to establish a greenfield construction chemicals plant and create a global research and development centre in India.

Leadership Emphasises Technology-Led Manufacturing

Pankaj Singh, Managing Director of Teknovace, highlighted its strategic intent. He said the alliance goes beyond capital infusion and focuses on building a deeply integrated, technology-driven manufacturing ecosystem in India. He also noted that despite a strong raw material base, India has traditionally relied on imports for high-performance wood coatings.

Building India as a Global Supply Hub

Beyond the domestic market, the alliance aims to position India as a key global supply base. Teknovace will cater to markets across Asia-Pacific, the Middle East, and Africa. It will also support select global markets through Remmers’ international distribution network. As reported by globalflowcontrol.com, over the next decade, Remmers will play an active role in strategy development, technology transfer, and global market integration. This will strengthen India’s role in the global wood coatings value chain.

Toyo Engineering India Pvt. Ltd. (Toyo-India), a wholly owned subsidiary of Japan-based Toyo Engineering Corporation, bagged a major Engineering, Procurement, Construction, and Commissioning (EPCC) contract from Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL). The contract covers a 400 KTPA polypropylene unit at BPCL’s Kochi Refinery and is scheduled for completion by Q3 FY 2027–28.

Strategic Project Under BPCL’s Petrochemical Expansion

Largest-Ever BPCL Contract for Toyo-India

The Kochi refinery project represents the largest contract ever awarded by BPCL to Toyo-India. While the two companies have worked together since 2003 on several refinery and petrochemical projects, this contract marks a new milestone in their long-standing relationship. Moreover, it reaffirms Toyo-India’s proven capability to deliver complex EPCC projects in the petrochemical sector.

Two Decades of Proven Collaboration

Reinforcing Leadership in India’s Energy Sector

Gujarat Alkalies and Chemicals Limited (GACL) appointed Sanjay Joshi as Additional and Non-Executive Independent Director with effect from January 1, 2026. The company has also confirmed that Joshi is not related to any existing Directors or Key Managerial Personnel, in line with regulatory requirements and governance norms.

Global Leadership Experience Strengthens the Board

With this appointment, GACL adds a director with a broad international outlook. Sanjay Joshi brings extensive global experience, having worked across India, Oman, Abu Dhabi, and the United Kingdom. Over the years, he has led assignments spanning project management, engineering leadership, and strategic transformation, thereby adding depth to the board’s collective expertise.

Extensive Board and Committee Roles

Currently, Joshi serves as Independent Director at Ion Exchange (India) Ltd. and Ion Exchange Engineering and Projects Limited. In addition, he is a Non-Executive Director at SLB Capturi India Private Ltd. (formerly Aker Carbon Capture India Private Limited). Across these roles, he actively contributes to governance through his membership in the Audit and Risk Management Committees and his role as Chairman of the CSR Committee at Ion Exchange (India) Ltd.

Recognition for Industry Leadership

His professional contributions have earned industry-wide recognition. Notably, the Chem TECH Foundation honoured him as Business Leader of the Year – Engineering Services for his significant impact on industrial engineering and leadership excellence.

Key Role in Building Aker Solutions’ India Operations

Earlier in his career, Joshi spent over two decades with Aker Solutions, where he played a critical role in developing the company’s upstream oil and gas business. During this period, he was instrumental in positioning India as a global execution hub within the group’s international operations. His leadership roles included Managing Director and Country Manager (India), Senior Vice President – Customer Management (APAC), and Director – Transformation, highlighting his ability to manage complex, multi-country engineering organisations.

Strong Foundations in Engineering and Project Management

LanzaTech Global, a player in industrial carbon recycling, announced successful operational results at the municipal solid waste (MSW) to ethanol pilot plant in Kuji City, Iwate, Japan, owned and operated by longtime partner SEKISUI CHEMICAL CO., LTD. (SEKISUI). The facility, a 1/10th commercial scale pilot plant with an annual capacity of approximately 400 tons of ethanol, has been in operation for nearly four years following mechanical completion in April 2022.

Demonstrating Reliable Processing of Mixed Waste

Throughout the operational period, LanzaTech’s gas fermentation platform handled highly inhomogeneous, unsorted, non-recyclable waste streams—materials that would otherwise go to landfill or incineration. The achievement is particularly significant as it proves the technology’s ability to adapt to diverse regional waste profiles, supporting the development of a global circular carbon economy.

Joint Funding and Government Support

The Kuji project was funded through SBR, a joint venture between Sekisui Chemical and INCJ, a private-public fund overseen by the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI). Additional funding was provided by the Japanese Ministry of the Environment, highlighting strong public-private collaboration in sustainable technology development.

Record Ethanol Yields and Operational Performance

The plant exceeded guaranteed performance, sustaining specific ethanol yields above guaranteed values for over fourteen consecutive days after reaching steady state—marking the most productive fermentation campaign at the facility to date.

Notably, this performance was achieved despite processing challenging syngas mixtures, with a CO + H₂ content ranging from 40% to 55% and an H₂:CO ratio between 1.1 and 1.4. LanzaTech notes that achieving consistent ethanol production under such conditions demonstrates both the adaptability and resilience of its process.

Integrating Gasification and Fermentation Innovation

As reported by chinimandi.com, the Kuji project integrated LanzaTech’s fermentation platform with a novel gasifier design, building on the company’s experience with established gasification systems. Despite variations in feed gas conditions, the process remained robust, meeting all key performance targets and demonstrating the reliability of LanzaTech’s technology for industrial applications.

Leadership Highlights Collaboration and Scalability

Dr. Jennifer Holmgren, CEO of LanzaTech, said, “We are immensely proud of what we’ve achieved together at our Japan demonstration facility. Our thanks go to Sekisui Chemical, the prefecture of Iwate, and the city of Kuji for their outstanding collaboration and support. The results at Kuji once again demonstrate the scalability and technical viability of our fermentation platform. We are also grateful to the Government of Japan for its continued support and investment in sustainable technologies.”

Ekki Homa, the joint venture between Ekki Pumps (India) and Homa Pumpenfabrik GmbH (Germany), has appointed NK Ranganath, former Managing Director of Grundfos Pumps India, as its chief advisor. An industry veteran, Ranganath brings more than four decades of leadership experience across the water technology and industrial sectors.

Proven Track Record in Scaling India Operations

During his tenure as Managing Director of Grundfos Pumps India, Ranganath played a pivotal role in building and scaling the company’s India operations. In particular, he drove initiatives focused on sustainability, strong governance frameworks, operational excellence and long-term value creation, positioning the company for sustained growth in the Indian market.

Deep Engagement with India’s Water Ecosystem

Beyond corporate leadership, Ranganath has remained closely engaged with India’s water and sustainability ecosystem. He previously served as co-chairman of the CII National Water Committee, chairman of the CII Tamil Nadu State Council, and president of the Madras Management Association. Currently, he serves as an independent director on the boards of several listed and unlisted companies.

Strategic Advisory Role to Drive Expansion

Ranganath will work closely with the board and leadership team of Ekki Homa. He will provide strategic guidance on growth priorities, distributor development, and governance structures. He will also support organisational capability building as the joint venture accelerates its expansion across India.

Leadership Welcomes the Appointment

Kanishka Arumugam, Co-CEO of Ekki, said, “I have known Mr Ranganath for over 15 years, and we are delighted to have him associated with Ekki Homa. He brings deep strategic insight and a proven track record of building scale in the global water-technology sector. His association further strengthens our leadership as we expand manufacturing capabilities and market presence”.

Strengthening Focus on Indian Market Needs

Hans Hoffmann, CEO of Homa Pumpenfabrik GmbH, said Ranganath’s experience would reinforce the joint venture’s market focus. “Ranganath’s deep understanding of the technical and operational requirements of the Indian sewage market will strengthen our ability to deliver robust, long-term solutions to real on-ground challenges,” Hoffmann said.

Distributor-Led Growth Strategy in Focus

As reported by worldpumps.com, Ekki Homa is pursuing a dual-track growth strategy centred on “Made in India, for India and the world,” while building the Ekki-Homa brand through a distributor-led go-to-market approach. The company plans to establish over 75 distribution partners across major Indian cities, serving residential, industrial, commercial and OEM segments.

Oil India Limited (OIL) is closely tracking developments in Venezuela and may increase its investment in the Carabobo oil project if production continues to improve, according to Ranjit Rath, Chairman and Managing Director. At the same time, the company has reaffirmed its focus on accelerating domestic growth through higher drilling activity and refinery expansion.

Carabobo Production Outlook Improves

Oil India holds a 3.5 per cent stake in the Carabobo field through a subsidiary, with an investment exposure of around USD 60 million. While there are currently no pending dividends from the Venezuelan asset, Rath said the company remains attentive to production trends. “Production prospects at the field now look better,” he noted. Consequently, OIL may consider additional investment to support higher output if the need arises.

Domestic Drilling Activity Gains Momentum

Oil India has significantly stepped up its domestic exploration and production activities. The company has completed more than 50 wells so far this year and is targeting around 80 wells, a sharp increase from the 30–35 wells drilled three years ago. OIL expects to exceed 70–75 wells in the current year and aims to drill around 100 wells next year. With an inventory of over 200 wells ready for drilling over the next three years, the company is positioning itself for sustained production growth.

Production Guidance Set to Rise

Building on last year’s record output of 6.71 million metric tonnes of oil and oil equivalent, OIL expects to raise its production guidance by 2–2.5 per cent. This increase reflects the combined impact of higher drilling intensity and improved project execution.

Numaligarh Refinery Expansion Advances

Rath also highlighted steady progress on the Numaligarh Refinery expansion project. The expanded refinery, with a capacity of 9 million tons per annum, has entered the commissioning phase. The crude distillation unit is already operational, while full commissioning is expected within six to nine months, followed by a stabilisation period. As reported by indianmasterminds.com, overall, Oil India continues to balance selective international exposure with an aggressive domestic growth strategy, focusing on production enhancement, infrastructure expansion and long-term energy security.

National Aluminium Company Limited (NALCO) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with CSIR–National Metallurgical Laboratory (NML), Jamshedpur, to collaborate on advanced research in red mud processing and the recovery of rare earth elements from this industrial by-product. Brijendra Pratap Singh, Chairman and Managing Director of NALCO, and Jagdish Arora, Director (Projects and Technical), witnessed the signing of the MoU.

Addressing Red Mud Disposal Challenges

Red mud, a by-product of alumina refining, presents significant environmental and disposal challenges for the aluminium industry. Through this collaboration, NALCO and CSIR–NML aim to develop sustainable and efficient technologies that can process red mud more effectively. By transforming red mud from waste into a valuable resource, the initiative seeks to reduce environmental risks while improving material utilisation.

Recovering Critical Rare Earth Elements

A key focus of the partnership is enabling the extraction of rare earth elements from red mud. These materials are critical for a wide range of applications, including clean energy technologies and advanced manufacturing. Consequently, the initiative supports India’s strategic resource security, while simultaneously lowering the environmental footprint of alumina and aluminium production.

Advancing Circular Economy Practices

The collaboration aligns closely with NALCO’s long-term vision of innovation-driven growth and environmental stewardship. Through research-led solutions, the company aims to adopt circular economy practices in mining and metal production, promoting sustainable industrial transformation. In addition, the project is expected to enhance resource efficiency, reduce industrial waste, and strengthen research-led development across the sector.

Strengthening Industry–Research Collaboration

By joining hands with CSIR–NML, NALCO is reinforcing its commitment to research and technology development in the aluminium and metals sector. As reported by indianmasterminds.com, the partnership highlights the growing importance of industry–academia collaboration. It helps address environmental challenges, improve operational sustainability, and deliver innovative solutions for industrial by-products.