Essar has announced a $6bn expansion plan to more than triple capacity at its refinery, while Reliance, at its site a few kilometres away, is working on plans to almost double capacity.
Indian employees are estimated to have received an average salary increase of 14 per cent this year. The rate is expected to be maintained with 2008 settlements forecast to average 15 per cent. That compares with an anticipated annual inflation rate of 5.7 per cent this year and 5.4 per cent in 2008.