Revival of FCI, Talcher to begin by Nov

New Delhi: Union Fertilizers and Chemicals minister Ananth Kumar today said the process for revival of the fertilizer plant at Talcher would begin by November this year.

“I hope that within 2-3 months - tentatively by November - we would lay the foundation stone for the revival of the plant, which would run on coal-to-liquid technology. The plant would be a blessing for the farmers of our country. To ensure the coal gasification technology for the plant, we had a review meeting here today,” Kumar told media persons after the meeting.

The Union minister also said the ministry of Fertilisers and Chemicals, ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, ministry of Coal and ministry of Energy are jointly working for the revival of the plant.

Union Petroleum and Natural Gas minister Dharmendra Pradhan, who was also present in the meeting, informed the media that a joint venture company has been formed in the name of Talcher Fertiliser Company. “I hope that the coal gasification technology for the plant will be finalised in a couple of months after which Engineers India Ltd (EIL) would be roped in for project management coordination. The ministry would then float tenders for the renovation work of the plant. Efforts are on to complete the tendering process and lay the foundation stone for the revival of the plant in the current fiscal,” Pradhan added.

Of the annual requirement of 80 lakh metric tonnes of urea fertiliser in the country, the Talcher plant will produce 13 lakh metric tonnes per annum.