• 1.Fertilizer Corporation of India Ltd. (FCIL) has five units at Sindri (Jharkhand). Talcher (Odisha), Ramagundam (Telangana), Gorakhpur (U.P.) & Korba (Chhattisgarh). These units were shutdown during the period 1990-2002. Government of India (GOI) decided in September 2002, to close operations of FCIL and release all its employees under Voluntary Separation Scheme (VSS). These units have huge infrastructure facilities like sizable land bank, residential quarters and office buildings, railway siding, tied up sources of electricity and water.
• 2.CCEA, in April 2007, had given in principle' approval to examine the feasibility of reviving units of FCIL and Hindustan Fertilizers Corporation Limited (HFCL) subject to confirmed availability of gas. In October, 2008, the Cabinet had accorded approval to revive FCIL and HFCL units subject to non recourse to Government funding and to consider write off of GOI Loan & interest to the extent required subject to submission of fully tied up proposal for final decision on waiver.
• 3.An Empowered Committee of Secretaries (ECOS) was constituted in November, 2008 to evaluate all options of revival of closed units, to decide upon the action to be pursued for seeking investments towards revival of each of the unit and recommend to the Government for approval. The ECOS members were Secretaries of Department of Fertilizers (Chairman), Department of Expenditure, Department of Disinvestment, Planning Commission. Department of Public enterprises, Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas. The ECOS after detailed deliberations in various meetings recommended that the revival of these closed units would be through ‘nomination route’ by Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) and by private sector through ‘bidding route’. The nominated PSUs, National Thermal Power Corporation Private Ltd (NTPC), Coal India Ltd (CIL), Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (IOCL) formed a Joint Venture named as “Hindustan Urvarak & Rasayan Ltd” (HURL) for the Sindri unit and Gorakhpur unit.

Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilizers (RCF), GAIL (I) Ltd & Coal India Limited (CIL) formed a Joint Venture named as“Talcher Fertilizer Ltd”(TFL) for the Talcher unit  and Engineers India Limited (EIL) National Fertilizers Limited (NFL) formed a Joint Venture named as “Ramagundam Fertilizer Corporation Ltd” (RFCL) for the Ramagundam unit. FCIL will get 11% equity in Joint Venture for Sindri, Gorakhpur & Ramagundam units and for Talcher, FCIL will get an equity of 4.95% in lieu of land use and infrastructure that would be provided by FCIL.

• 4.The progress of revival of FCIL units is as under.

4.1Talcher Unit

The pre-project activities for revival of Talcher unit (Odisha) by the nominated Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs), namely, RCF, CIL, GAIL and FCIL are in progress to set-up a coal-based fertilizer plant. A Joint Venture Company, namely Talcher Fertilizers Limited, has been incorporated (TFL). Shell Coal Gasification Technology has been selected for setting up of the plant. Concession Agreement has been signed between FCIL & TFL. Substitution Agreement have also been between FCIL, TFL the consortium of Bankers.TFL have awarded 90% packages, including both LSTK & Non LSTK Contracts. Construction Activities are in full swing with civil activities.

• •  2.Ramagundam Unit

A Joint Venture Company, namely, Ramagundam Fertilizers & Chemicals Limited (RFCL) has been incorporated by the nominated PSUs, namely, EIL, NFL and FCIL to set-up a gas-based Urea plant with a capacity of 12.7 lakh MT per annum. Concession Agreement, Lease Agreement & Substitution Agreement have been signed with FCIL. The commercial production has already been started w.e.f 22.03.2021.During the year 2021-2022 RFCL has produced 389180.95 MT of Urea and 256500.25 MT of Ammonia.

• • 3.Sindri & Gorakhpur units

Union Cabinet decided on 13.7.2016 to revive Sindri & Gorakhpur Units of FCIL, along with Barauni Unit of HFCL by a Joint Venture of nominated PSUs, namely, NTPC, CIL & IOCL. FCIL & HFCL would also be Joint Venture partners. A Joint Venture company in the name of 'Hindustan Urvarak & Rasayan Limited (HURL)’ has been incorporated for the purpose of revival.

The status of both the plants is as under:-

Gorakhpur – The Plant has been commissioned and commercial production started as 06.05.2022.

Sindri – The Plant has been commissioned on 07.11.2022. Commercial Production is yet to be started.

• • 4.Korba unit

The decision for revival of Korba unit is yet to be taken by Government of India.

5. Financial Performance of FCIL for Past 2 years is as under:-

(Rs./Crore)

* Includes an extra ordinary item of Rs 44.90 Crore. (Shares received from Joint Venture Partner RFCL).

** Includes an extra ordinary item of Rs 18.54 Crore. (Shares received from Joint Venture Partner RFCL).