The central government is planning to set up at least 10 new Urea production plants in coal rich states of the country.
Hansraj Ahir, centre’s Minister of State for Fertilizers and Chemical on Monday said that these plants will manufacture Urea from coal. According to the minister states such as Chhatisgarh, Jharkhand, Bihar, West Bengal, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and others where coal is available in large quantities will host the new Urea plants.
Mr. Ahir, who was on a visit to Mumbai, also announced that first of those 10 plants will be set up in Vidarbha’s Chandrapur district, which is also his constituency. “This will be the joint venture of Rashtriya Chemicals & Fertilizers and Coal India. We Have asked for a coal block to initiate the project and I am confident that the process will soon begin,” he said, while interacting with press personnel at the Maharashtra assembly.
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“The Chinese are using this technology of producing Urea from coal. We need to adopt it to be self-sufficient,” the minister added.
At present country’s annual demand of Urea is 31 million metric tonne (MT), out of which the internal production is about 22 million MT. “We have to import rest of the quantity, mainly from China,” said Mr. Ahir, alleging that the shortage of Urea in the country is a result of its smuggling to Nepal, Bhangladesh and Sri Lanka. He said that the government is confident of providing at least 32 million MT Urea this year to states as per the demand.
As per the ministry’s plan, it has also planned the expansion of present RCF plant in Mumbai, which currently produces 1.5 million MT. “Another plant to produce fertilizers from bio-waste of Navi Mumbai’s vegetable market is under consideration and decision on it will be taken soon,” he said.
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