Centre to revive closed fertilizer units - India News and Travel Times Provides India-centric and other News and Features

The Union Government on Friday informed the Rajya Sabha that it would explore the feasibility of revival of closed public sector fertilizer units of Hindustan Fertilizer Corporation Ltd (HFCL) and Fertilizer Corporation of India Ltd (FCIL). Replying to a question, Union Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilisers Srikant Kumar Jena said the government is also looking for availability of natural gas, to meet the emerging demand production gap of urea in the country. "An Empowered Committee of Secretaries (ECOS) has been constituted with the mandate to evaluate all investment options for revival of the closed units of FCIL/HFCL and to make suitable recommendations for consideration of the Government," Jena said. "The ECOS has considered various possible investment options for revival of each of the closed units and have finalized its recommendations regarding the suitable options. The recommendations of ECOS are under consideration of the Government," he added. The revival of closed plants is likely to reduce the supply and demand gap regarding availability of urea in the country. As regards prices of urea to the farmers, Jena said urea is made available to farmers at same maximum retail price irrespective of imported or indigenously produced.