CHENNAI Petroleum Corporation Limited (CPCL) has successfully installed Diesel Hydotreating (DHDT) reactor, at its Manali refinery to produce clean diesel, meeting the Euro-IV specifications as per the auto fuel policy of the Centre. K Balachandran, managing director, CPCL told reporters here on Tuesday that the DHDT reactor has been set up as part of the auto fuel quality upgradation project at Rs 2,165 crore to provide green diesel from April. The DHDT unit, which will drastically reduce the sulphur content in the diesel, is expected to be mechanically completed by July this year, he added. Technical director of the company, S Chandrasekaran, explained that the reactor is the heart of the DHDT unit, which handles hydrocarbons and hydrogen at high temperature and pressure, and the desulfurification reactions take place in the reactor in the presence of catalyst. Pointing out that the project would be completed only by July against the deadline of April, Balachandran said CPCL was revamping its existing facilities for producing Euro-IV compliant petrol and diesel. He informed that according to the Centre's auto fuel policy, 13 major cities, including Chennai and Bangalore have been identified for the use of Euro-IV fuel, while Euro-III petrol and diesel would be used in the rest of the country. The managing director said the DHDT reactor weighing 614 metric tonne, is the heaviest among all equipment within CPCL. The unit costing Rs 50 crore is 42-meter high and 5.8m in diameter, equivalent to the 13th floor of the LIC building in Chennai. Chandrasekaran said the DHDT reactor was fabricated by Larson and Toubro at Hazira, Surat. He said the reactor was transported using barge from Hazira to Mumabi port and by ship from there to Chennai port. After unloading at the Chennai port, the Overdimensional Consignment was transported to Manali using a tractor-trailer with 420 hydraulic wheels. Enroute the unit the vehicle passed through two railway crossings, which required stoppage of rail traffic and dismantling of overhead electric traction and preparation of surface using sand bags and steel mat for crossing the rail track and then restoration of track and traction to its original shape -- all within two hours, he said. Detailed discussions were held with the Public Works Department as the crossing of the reactor unit had to be designed in such a way that unrestricted water flow was established.