RIL commissioned its first polypropylene plant with a capacity of 350,000 tonnes per annum at its Hazira petrochemical complex in October, 1996. This was followed by two lines of polypropylene of 200,000 TPA each at its Jamnagar petrochemical complex in April this year.

According to a company release, the third line of 200,000 TPA at Jamnagar is scheduled for commissioning later this year which would make Reliance the leader in Asia with one million tonne capacity and among the top five in the global polypropylene market.

In order to improve process efficiency, RIL has adopted the internationally acclaimed Unipol process for manufacturing the product. The process efficiency coupled with the global scale of operation has given RIL an unprecedented cost advantage over most other producers in this part of theworld, claims the release.

RIL's polypropylene plants have the capability to offer a wide range of homopolymer, random and impact copolymer grades catering to the entire spectrum of extrusion, injection, blow moulding, fibre and filament applications. All the different grades that were earlier imported by consumers in the plastic processing industry are currently being produced by Reliance. The products are also being exported to various countries in Asia, Europe, Africa and the Middle east.

Polypropylene is used in the production of an array of articles of everyday use from packaging materials, hosiery garments, moulded articles, kitchenware, furniture to medical appliances and continues to be the fastest growing polymer in the world. The growth rate continues to be the highest among all other polymers in the country with an annual growth rate of around 23 per cent over the past several years.

RIL is among India's large private sector companies in terms of sales, profits as well as assets. In thefinancial year 1998-99, the company registered total sales of Rs 14,553 crore while it notched up a net profit of Rs 1,704 crore.