Dibrugarh, July 4: The Assam gas cracker project, which is being implemented by Brahmaputra Cracker and Polymer Ltd (BCPL), has achieved a physical progress of 99.8 per cent and will be commissioned in two months' time.

"Brahmaputra Cracker and Polymer Ltd (BCPL) has inched towards an overall commissioning of the much-awaited Assam gas cracker project with the commissioning of two more units - GSU (gas sweetening unit) and polypropylene unit (PPU) today," the managing director of BCPL, P.N. Prasad, said here.

The project was originally scheduled to be completed by April, 2012. Due to time overruns, the cost of the project was revised to Rs 8,920 crore. The original cost of the project was Rs 5,460 crore.

The BPCL, a central public sector undertaking under the department of chemical and petrochemicals, is executing the project.

He said the commissioning of the project would usher in a new era towards socio-economic development of the entire Northeast.

"It is expected that with the full-fledged operations of the BCPL, more avenues will be created in direct employment and indirect employment through setting up of downstream industries, thus boosting the economy at micro and macro levels," Prasad said.

The project, when commissioned, will have a capacity of 2,000 tonnes per annum of linear low-density polyethylene and 60,000 tonnes per annum of polypropylene.

Considering the fact that plastic consumption in the Northeast is 3.75kg per capita which is far less than the national average of 8kg, Prasad said the project would be a big boost to the plastic industry.

"We have conducted awareness programme for plastic processing industries and the young entrepreneurs are showing interest into it. We have organised awareness programme in Manipur, Shillong and Tinsukia about the advantages of plastic-processing industries," Prasad said.

The demand for plastics has been growing rapidly at a compound annual growth rate 10 per cent over the last few years.

A study of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (Ficci) indicates 10 per cent growth for the plastics processing industry over the next few years and the market is expected to reach 18 million tonnes by 2018.