RIL temporarily shuts down PTA, PET units at Dahej due to water shortage

Firm says shortage due tp lower release of dam water and increased salinity of water supply to the manufacturing complex

Reliance Industries has temporarily shut  down its purified terephthalic acid and polyethylene terephthalate manufacturing complex in Bharuch district due to water shortage, the company has said.

According to the company, the shortage has been caused by lower release of dam water and significantly increased salinity of water supply to RIL's Dahej manufacturing complex.  PTA and PET are major raw materials for the polyester industry.

"As a response, RIL is running on reduced capacity in some of the plants and has temporarily shut down its PTA and PET plants. RIL has 2.3 mmtpa of PTA capacity and 650 ktpa of PET capacity at its Dahej manufacturing complex," the company said in its filing with the stock exchanges.

The company informed that it had initiated alternative arrangements for water even as it was closely monitoring the situation. The temporary shutdown has also resulted in the company carrying out "planned maintenance and reliability activities".  The manufacturing complex is in a state of readiness to resume full supplies as soon as the water availability and water quality issues are resolved.

"RIL is ensuring a continued supply of PTA to the domestic market from its Hazira and Patalgana manufacturing complexes," it further stated.