Odisha Sun Times Bureau
New Delhi, Apr 27:

There has been satisfactory progress in the revival process of the now defunct Talcher Fertilizer Plant of the Fertilizer Corporation of India (FCI).

“Following a decision to revive four defunct fertilizer plants in eastern India, work is in progress for the revival of these units. In Talcher fertilizer will be produced using coal-based gas. These projects are reviewed by us on a regular basis. Today a mid-term review of the projects was undertaken. We found that work progress has been satisfactory. Technology for the Talcher unit has been finalized in the meantime. Shell petroleum has been entrusted with the responsibility of extract gas from coal. Using the company’s license gas will be produced from coal and from it fertilizer will be produced through ammonia plant,” informed Union Petroleum & Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhanaddressing a press conference here today.

These investments will augment industrialization in eastern India.

“These investments will result in the industrialization of Odisha and all areas of eastern India including West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand and eastern UP,” Pradhan added after the review meeting held at Shastri Bhawan here.

Pradhan elaborated that Rs 20,000 Cr would be invested to revive fertilizer plants at Gorakhpur (Uttar Pradesh), Barauni (Bihar) and Sindri (Jharkhand).

Petroleum Minister said that the Talcher Fertilizer Plant in Odisha is being revived with an investment of Rs 8000 crore by a consortium comprising FCI, GAIL, Rashtriya Chemical and Fertilizer Limited and Coal India Limited. This would be the first time a Fertilizer plant in India will be operated based on Coal Gasification technology.

Production from these four major Fertilizer plants will ensure enhanced domestic fertilizer production and availability which will give an impetus to the vital agricultural sector thereby aiding the Second Green Revolution. The ground work for these Plants is scheduled to commence in FY 2017-18, he added.

It may be recalled here that the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) after a series of deliberation had decided to revive the Talcher Unit in 2014.

It was decided that the unit will be revived by a consortium of GAIL, RCF, CIL and FCIL.

The Board for Industrial and Financial Reconstruction (BIFR) had ordered the closure of FCI’s Talcher unit in 2002 as it was making losses over a period of time.

After nearly a decade, revival plans were mooted during the UPA government in 2012.

The demolition process of some portions of the old unit began after the revival plan received Cabinet approval.