VATIS UPDATE Article

The Gurgaon-based SRF Ltd, a manufacturer of intermediate chemicals and refrigerant gases, will set up a pilot plant to manufacture next generation refrigerant gas, Hydrofluoro olefin (HFO) 1234yf. As a result of this initiative, SRF will become the first technology developer outside US and Europe to manufacture HFO 1234yf, which is expected to find increasing use in car air-conditioning systems globally in future.

By venturing to develop its own process in-house R&D capabilities in refrigerant gases and high value fluorine based products, SRF Ltd has further reinforced its position in this niche domain. The in-house technology will allow SRF to manufacture, brand and sell HFO 1234yf in India and in global markets and also develop other HFO refrigerants in future. According to SRF, the capex for setting up a pilot facility for HFO 1234yf is a milestone step in SRF’s journey towards becoming an R&D based chemical manufacturer at the world stage.

Significantly, the SRF announcement follows the recent agreement of Honeywell, the United States, to license its proprietary process technologies to Navin Fluorine, India, for producing the refrigerant Solstice yf (also known as HFO-1234yf) in India exclusively for Honeywell. Till date, SRF remains the only producer of Hydrofluorocarbons (HFC) 134a in India and has recently commissioned its HFC 32 plant, again with its own technology.