India’s Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilisers (RCF) may start commissioning its revamped methanol unit in Mumbai by the end of September instead of June as planned. The delay was due to weak demand in the key downstream formaldehyde sector. The company is currently running its existing facility at 100% capacity. “However if we run the new revamped unit, we have no place to store it [methanol],” he added. “Commercial volume may be expected at the end of the year depending on economics.” The expansion project, costing rupees (Rs) 1.35bn ($27.7m), would increase the plant’s capacity to 225 tonnes/day from the existing 180 tonnes/day, the official said. The revamp was needed to reduce the plant’s energy consumption to 7.96m kilocalories/tonne of methanol from 9m kilocalories/tonne, the official said. （ICIS）