The Mangalore Chemicals and Fertilisers (MCF), a subsidiary of Zuari Agro Chemicals Ltd., is on an expansion mode to nearly double its production in about two years.
MCF, which produces about a million ton of fertilizers a year, has plans to add another 7.5 lakh tonnes during its expansion programme, said Director Prabhakar Rao. The proposal is in line with the Union Government’s make-in India policy to reduce imports. Now the country is importing about 10 million tonnes of fertilizers every year.
Speaking at a mandatory public hearing programme organised by the company in the presence of Dakshina Kannada Deputy Commissioner S. Sasikanth Senthil here, Mr. Rao said another 1.5 lakh tonnes of urea production would be added to the existing 4 lakh tonne production while production of DAP/NPK would get increased from the present 4 lakh tonnes to one million tonnes in the next two-five years.
The company would be investing close to Rs. 1,500 crore for the expansion programme, which also includes setting up a poly-carboxylate ether unit to produce super plastisizer that is mixed with concrete to strengthen the mix.
The company does not require any additional land and the new units would come up within the 192 acres of its premises at Panambur. Nor would it require additional water than 9 million litres per day supplied by Mangaluru City Corporation as MCF has become a zero-effluent discharge entity. All the water is utilised within the premises, Mr. Rao said.
The expansion would provide direct employment to about 400 people in additional to the existing 1,200 and indirect employment to over 3,000 people in terms of packing bags production, transportation etc.
