Page 161 - CW E-Magazine (16-4-2024)

Fertilisers Fertilisers

SELF-RELIANCE PREFERRED FEEDSTOCK

India to stop importing urea by 2025 end: Minister SPIC achieves 100% transition to natural gas, enhancing

India will stop importing urea by Imports of urea ration of Mother Earth’ scheme to profi tability & sustainability
the end of 2025 as a massive push for [Million tonnes] incentivise states and Union Territories
domestic manufacturing has helped Imports to promote the usage of alternative ferti- Southern Petrochemical Industries
bridge the gap between supply and lisers and balanced use of chemical Corporation Ltd. (SPIC), one of India’s
demand, Chemicals and Fertilisers Minister, 2018-19 7.48 fertilisers. leading agri-nutrient and fertiliser com-
Mr. Mansukh Mandaviya has said. 2019-20 9.12 pany, has completely transitioned to
2020-21 9.83 Increased subsidy using 100% natural gas as a raw mate-
In an interaction with PTI, the He said the Centre also protected rial source for the production of urea.
minister noted that the government has 2021-22 9.14 Indian farmers from a sharp rise in
adopted a two-pronged strategy to end 2022-23 7.58 prices of fertilisers in global markets The completion of Indian Oil Cor-
dependency on urea imports. 2023-24 4.0 by increasing the subsidy on key crop poration’s (IOC) Ennore cross-country
nutrients. For 2024-25, the government pipeline and ONGC’s supply of domes-
For one, it has revived four closed said, while asserting that the import bill has allocated a fertiliser subsidy of tic gas has enabled the transition to a
urea plants and is reviving one more, of urea would become zero. Rs. 1.64-lakh crore, as against the revised cleaner, cheaper and more effi cient fuel
taking domestic capacity from 22.5-mtpa estimates of Rs 1.89-lakh crore for the source for urea production. SPIC has
in 2014-15 to 31.0-mtpa in 2023-24, Nano urea impact 2023-24 fi scal. In 2022-23, the ferti- agreed to consume domestic gas and
which will rise to 32.5-mtpa after the Urea consumption stood at 35.7-mt liser subsidy had shot up to Rs. 2.55-lakh re-gasifi ed liquefi ed natural gas (R-LNG)
commissioning of the fi fth plant. during 2022-23, a decline of 2.5-mt on crore. at the Tuticorin plant and in preparation “This shift aligns with our commit- buting to global climate action goals,”
increase in demand for nano liquid urea for this transition, it adapted its primary ment to environmental sustainability said Mr. Ashwin Muthiah, Chairman,
Secondly, the government is aiming and the government’s efforts to dis- Under the urea subsidy scheme, the reformer catalyst to handle 100% natu- and underscores our responsiveness to SPIC. The switch will bring down the
to replace the use of 2.0-2.5 mt of con- courage the use of chemical fertilisers. fertiliser is provided to the farmers at ral gas. Until March 2024, SPIC utilised government policies promoting cleaner cost of production of fertilisers. Fur-
ventional urea with nano liquid urea. a statutorily notifi ed Maximum Retail a combination of fuels, with 60% of its fuel sources. We remain committed to thermore, it will now be continuously
A total of 70-mn nano urea bottles Price (MRP), and the difference bet- domestic natural gas supplied through implementing carbon-neutral initia- available with no storage requirements
With these two measures, the (of 500-ml each) were sold during ween the MRP and the production cost the IOC’s Ramnad-Tuticorin pipeline tives in our raw material usage and and minimum logistics and freight
government is confi dent of closing the the August 2021 and February 2024, is being paid to manufacturers as sub- from ONGC. manufacturing processes, thus contri- overheads.
gap between demand and supply of with each bottle equivalent to one bag sidy. Besides, under the Nutrient-Based
urea, which is currently about 4.0-mt. (45-kg) of conventional urea. Subsidy Policy, a fi xed amount of RESTORING SOIL HEALTH
subsidy is notifi ed on an annual/semi- Microbial formulations from IISR aid agricultural
“Our agenda is very clear. By the The government has also launched annual basis, which ensures availability
end of 2025, Modiji will end the coun- ‘PM Programme for Restoration, of P&K (phosphatic and potassic) ferti- productivity
try’s import dependency on urea,” he Awareness, Nourishment and Amelio- lizers at reasonable prices to farmers.

FERTILISER RAW MATERIAL ICAR-Indian Institute of Spices the availability of essential nutrients Around 6.73-million hectares of
Research (IISR), Kozhikode, has deve- to plants and help enhance nutrient use land in India is affected by salt. This
IFFCO to buy green ammonia from ACME’s Odisha plant loped three new microbial formulations effi ciency. saline/sodic soil adversely affects
based on granular lime and gypsum to agricultural productivity. ICAR-IISR
Cooperative fertiliser major, Indian able energy, and will be used by IFFCO ergy solutions,” Mr. Hiren Mehta, Chief help farmers improve agricultural pro- Strains like Bacillus sp and Pseudo- has developed two gypsum-based bacte-
Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Ltd. for manufacturing complex fertilisers Commercial Offi cer, ACME, said. ductivity. The formulations developed monas are commonly used in agri- rial formulations: Bactogypsum and
(IFFCO), has signed a Memorandum at its Paradeep unit in Odisha and ACME will retain the green credits from using IISR’s patent-applied technology culture as nutrient solubilisers/mobili- Trichogypsum. While Bactogypsum
of Understanding (MoU) with ‘green’ Kandla unit in Gujarat. “This is a step the transaction and trade it in the form of can address soil pH issues and deliver sers, as well as plant growth stimulants. ameliorates high pH soils and ensures
ammonia producer, ACME Cleantech forward in our ongoing efforts to inno- Internationally Transferred Mitigation benefi cial microorganisms concurrently Recognising this potential, scientists simultaneous delivery of plant bene-
Solutions for the purchase of about vate in the fi eld of fertiliser production Outcomes (ITMO) with other countries through a single formulation, a press at ICAR-IISR developed ‘Bactolime’, fi cial bacteria, Trichogypsum deli-
200-ktpa of ammonia. and supply,” said Mr. Birinder Singh, under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement. release said. which integrates liming material and vers Trichoderma – a fungal biocontrol
Director, IFFCO. Under this Article, countries are able to benefi cial bacteria, performing the agent and corrects the high pH levels of
The feedstock – key for manu- transfer carbon credits earned from the Bactolime integrates Plant Growth function of both ameliorating the soil’s soil. Both buffer the soil pH to a near-
facturing urea and other nitrogenous “This partnership with IFFCO re- reduction of greenhouse gas emissions Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPRs) with low pH and ensuring delivery of plant- neutral level, creating a favourable
fertilisers –will be produced at ACME’s presents a signifi cant leap forward in to help one or more countries meet their liming material into a single formula- benefi cial bacteria through a single environment for establishing these
plant in Gopalpur, Odisha using renew- our mission to promote sustainable en- climate targets. tion. These benefi cial bacteria ensure product. benefi cial microbes.

160 Chemical Weekly April 16, 2024 Chemical Weekly April 16, 2024 161

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