New Delhi: The Centre is aiming to commission the Talcher Fertilizer plant by 2023, Minister of Chemical and Fertilizers DV Sadananda Gowda said on Tuesday. While responding to a question in the Lok Sabha, Gowda said, "The government is presently focusing upon expeditious installation and commissioning of coal gasification-based Talcher project."
"Other major activities, i.e. site enabling work, construction water, construction power and renovation of administrative building, guest house, construction of roads, drains, culverts etc are under execution. The plant is likely to be commissioned in 2023," Gowda said.
Talcher unit of FCIL (Fertlizer Corporation of India Limited) is being revived by Talcher Fertilizers Limited, a joint venture company of RCF (Rashtriya Chemicals & Fertilizers), GAIL (Gas Authority of India Ltd), Coal India and FCIL. The plan is to set up a coal gasification-based urea plant of 12.7 lakh MT annual capacity to help India meet its Urea requirement.
A lump sum turn key (LSTK) contract for Talcher Fertilizer plant was awarded to China's Wuhuan Engineering Co. Ltd in September as part of measures to revival the closed units of FCIL and HFCL (Hindustan Fertilizers Corporation Ltd). The project is estimated to cost Rs 13,277 crores.
The plant is first-of-its-kind in India and shall use a blend of coal and petcoke as feedstock for the production of urea. Coal for this project shall be sourced from captive Northern part of North Arkhapal mine in Talcher region allotted to TFL and petcoke shall be sourced from Paradip Refinery. This project will promote the use of abundantly available domestic coal in an environment-friendly manner. The success of this technology shall also propel the usage of coal for the production of other chemical products. The project shall improve India's self-sufficiency in Urea; promote agriculture growth and availability of Urea to farmers of Odisha.