By Our Correspondent
NEW DELHI/BHUBANESWAR: Union PNG-Steel Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Friday reviewed the progress of FCI Talcher in Odisha. Pradhan along with Union Coal, Mines and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi, MoS for Chemical and Fertilisers Mansukh Mandaviya and senior officials of Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Ministry of Coal, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, Ministry of Finance, , SBI, and Ministry of External Affairs reviewed the progress of coal gasification and urea manufacturing projects being executed by Talcher Fertilisers Ltd.
“Once completed it will be India’s first coal gasification-based fertiliser plant with pet coke blending and shall ensure easy availability of urea and fertilisers in Odisha and other parts of eastern India. We discussed the challenges faced by #TFL and also deliberated upon ways to execute the project at a much faster pace. Successful completion of the project will help achieve self-sufficiency in urea production, create employment opportunities and facilitate development of Odisha,” Union Minister Pradhan, who hails from coal rich Angul-Talcher area 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.
