Government to finalise soon coal gasification technology for Talcher fertiliser plant
BHUBANESWAR: Union Minister of Chemicals and Fertilizers Ananth Kumar today reviewed the revival programme of the Talcher unit of the Fertiliser Corporation of India in New Delhi.
Union Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan and senior officials of Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL), Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilisers Limited (RCF), Coal India Limited (CIL) and FCIL were present in the meeting held in New Delhi.
Asserting that the coal gasification technology for the project will be finalised soon, Pradhan said petcoke from Paradip oil refinery will be blended with coal produced from Talcher for production of gas. He said work on the project will start during the current financial year.
While gas produced from coal gasification is to be used as fuel for fertiliser production, he said thrust will be given to reduce the cost of the project make it viable. Besides, improved technology will be used in the plant for a safe environment in and around the plant areas.
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) after a series of deliberation decided to revive the Talcher Unit in 2014.
It was decided that the unit will be revived by a consortium of GAIL, RCF, CIL and FCIL. Efforts are on to make the plant functional by 2018-19.
The Board for Industrial and Financial Reconstruction (BIFR) ordered closure of FCI's Talcher unit in 2002 as it was making losses over a period of time. After nearly a decade, revival plans were mooted during the UPA government in 2012. The demolition process of some portions of the old unit began after the revival plan received Cabinet approval.