By Our Correspondent
NEW DELHI/BHUBANESWAR: Union PNG-Steel Minister Dharmendra Pradhan was on Wednesday held a review meeting with Union Coal Mines and Parliamentary Affairs, Pralhad Joshi, Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilisers, DV Sadananda Gowda , Union Minister of State for Shipping(Independent) and Chemicals and Fertilisers, Mansukh Mandaviya and to the know the progress of FCI-Talcher in Odisha.
“Along with cabinet colleagues Shri @DVSadanandGowda, Shri @JoshiPralhadand Shri @mansukhmandviya , reviewed the progress of coal gasification and urea manufacturing project being executed by Talcher Fertilizers Ltd,” Union PNG-Steel Minister tweeted@dpradhanbjp.
“We deliberated on the challenges faced by Talcher Fertilizers Ltd. and also discussed ways to execute the project at a much faster pace. #TFL after commissioning will help India achieve self-sufficiency in urea production,” Pradhan said.
Commercial production of urea from the state owned fertilizer unit at Talcher currently under revival is expected to commence in September 2023. The plant formerly owned by Fertilizer Corporation of India Ltd (FCIL) has halted production since March 1999. Presently, Talcher Fertilizers Ltd (TFL), a joint venture (JV) forged by GAIL India Ltd, Coal India Ltd (CIL), Rashtriya Chemicals & Fertilizers Ltd (RCF) and FCIL is reviving operations of the unit. TFL’s promoters have hitherto committed Rs 8000 crore on various awarded contracts.
The coal gasification based ammonia urea complex being set up at Talcher, 140 km from Bhubaneswar, would have a design capacity of 2200 tonnes per day of ammonia and 3850 tonnes per day of urea. In addition, the plant will produce 100 tonne per day of sulphur flakes as a saleable by-product.
The plant will produce 2.38 million tonnes of cubic metres per day of natural gas equivalent synthesis gas from coal. This process will translate into reduced import bill of liquefied natural gas (LNG).
TFL has been allocated 50 per cent of the North Arkhapal Srirampur coal mine. Total coal consumption for the plant is pegged at 2.5 million tonnes per annum (mtpa). Petcoke will be sourced from Indian Oil Corporation’s (IOC) grassroots crude oil refinery at Paradeep.
Overall investment on the project is envisaged at Rs 13277crore with debt equity ratio of 72:28. During construction phase, the project will generate employment for up to 10,000 people. That apart, 4000 people will get direct and indirect employment opportunities once the plant begins commercial operations.
The coal gasification project at Talcher has accomplished some key milestones. It has obtained environment clearance in February 2018 and approval of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) for equity contribution by RCF in September 2018. A memorandum of understanding (MoU) has been signed with IOC for sourcing petcoke in August 2017. Lately, the project has got the Consent to Establish on December 2, 2019.
