IOCL With importance on development and speedy commercialisation of globally competitive products, processes and technologies, the focus

has now shifted from R&D to RD&D (Research, Development & Deployment). INDMAX, a trademark technology developed by the Centre for maximisation of LPG and light distillates from refinery residue, has been selected by IndianOil for setting up a 4 million metric tonnes per annum (MMTPA) INDMAX unit as a part of the 15 MMTPA integrated refinery-cumpetrochemicals complex at Paradip, as well as at Bongaigaon Refinery & Petrochemicals Ltd. (BRPL). The Centre has also licensed its Diesel Hydrotreating technology to these two refineries. IndianOil R&D is also working on production, storage, transportation, distribution and commercialisation of Hydrogen as an alternative fuel. New studies by IndiaOil's R&D Centre established that Bio-diesel produced from Jatropha seeds were at par with that produced from vegetable oils. IndianOil has, invested close to Rs.1,7337 crore in 2011-12 for setting up world-class facilities at its R&D Centre for building world-class capabilities in analytical services, engines, test rigs and pilot plants for all major refinery processes, catalyst characterisation & development, etc. RIL RIL intends to create world-class physical and intellectual capabilities. The Company focuses its attention to fundamental R&D for sustainability of its business, advanced technical services, enhancing internal capability to develop basic engineering packages, and in building capabilities. Some major ongoing/completed projects include:

Selection of cost effective FCC catalysts and additives for improved conversion and yields. Propylene yield improvements. Benzene reduction in refining to promote clean fuel. Computational fluid dynamics for trouble shooting. Molecular compositional blending models. Polypropylene quality control. Bio-filtration process for effluent water treatment. Catalyst for selective dehydrogenation of C11-C14 nparaffins. Productivity enhancement through polymer modification. New co-catalyst systems for bottle-grade PET productivity enhancement. Development of low cost catalyst, additives and spin finish for polyester. Revamption of coker unit and process of pitch.

RIL invested close to Rs. 4106 crores in 2011-12 for R&D purpose. Analysis On analysing R&D types and expense we can find that IOCL has more expense on R&D than RIL. IOCL focuses on R&D on alternate fuels where as RIL focuses on enhancing its own plant which inturn yields more profit to RIL. Thus overall return on R&D investment is more for RIL.

References http://www.dsir.gov.in/a_report/english/2011-12E/10c_annex03.pdf http://www.iocl.com/aboutus/Research_Development.aspx http://www.ril.com/html/aboutus/research_development.html http://www.ril.com/downloads/pdf/RIL_SR2011_12.pdf