Govt considering steps for reopening closed fertiliser units

The government is considering modalities for reopening several closed fertiliser units across the country, the Rajya Sabha was informed today. "Urea is being imported for reviving sick fertiliser units. Seven plants are currently not functioning and the government has decided to revive them," Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilisers Srikant Jena during Question Hour. Jena said the government is also planning to increase the capacity of existing fertiliser units and those units trying to convert from naphtha-based to gas-based are also being given help by the government. He said the ministry is also considering adding a fourth unit at Namrup fertiliser plant in Assam, as its existing three units are not functioning. To another question, Jena said a joint venture company - KRIBHCO Shyam Fertiliser Ltd (KSFL) - had acquired a urea-ammonium plant of Oswal Chemicals and Fertilisers Ltd (OCFL) at Shahjahanpur in Uttar Pradesh in January 2006. The JV unit suffered a loss of Rs 39.87 crore during 2008-09 though earlier it had reported net profit of Rs 3.41 crore during 2005-06, Rs 3.76 crore in 2006-07 and Rs 0.57 crore in 2007-08, he added.