Durgapur Chemicals Ltd. (DCL) was incorporated on 31st July 1963 as a public sector company wholly owned by the Government of West Bengal as part of an initiative to develop Durgapur as an industrial hub of West Bengal. DCL started commercial production of Phenol, phthalic anhydride, Monochloro Benzene, Pentachloro Phenol, Caustic Soda, Chlorine and Hydrochloric Acid in the year 1968.