Ireland-based chemicals company Linde has signed a deal to supply industrial gases to IndianOil Corporation Limited’s (IOCL) refinery in Baholi, Panipat, in the Indian state of Haryana.

The refinery capacity is due to be increased from 15 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) to 25mtpa.

Under the long-term agreements, Linde’s Indian entities will build, own and operate the new on-site facility at Panipat to supply hydrogen, nitrogen and compressed dry air, thereby supporting the refinery expansion project.

The new on-site facility will have a total combined industrial gas production capacity of 142,200 cubic metres per hour.

It is expected to commence production in 2025.

Besides supplying to IndianOil, the new on-site complex will cater to growing demand for nitrogen from companies across end markets including chemicals and energy and manufacturing.

Linde ASEAN & South Asia president Moloy Banerjee said: “We won this project on the basis of the best-in-class efficiency offered by our technology, plus Linde’s track record of safely and reliably supplying our customers.

“We look forward to building on our existing relationship with IndianOil, while also increasing our network density in northern India.”

Earlier this year, McDermott was selected by IndianOil for the expansion of the Panipat refinery and petrochemical complex.

The contract was awarded for project management consultancy and engineering, procurement and construction management for phase two of IOCL's existing naphtha cracker unit expansion project as well as adding a new ethylene derivative unit at the Panipat facility.

Commissioned in 1998, the Panipat complex is located around 100km from New Delhi.