Page 134 - CW E-Magazine (6-2-2024)

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EXPANSION PRAGATI’S PROGRESS
Rallis India raising herbicide capacity at Dahej facility Over 7,000 farmers certifi ed in world’s fi rst sustain-

able castor programme
Agro-inputs fi rm, Rallis India Ltd.,
has announced that its Board of Direc-
tors has approved the proposal for capa- German chemicals giant, BASF, in accordance with the SuCCESS sus- agement techniques in the farming
city addition of the existing pendime- and its partners have published the tainable castor code (more than 27,000 communities.
thalin herbicide plant at its Dahej SEZ latest results from its ‘Pragati’ project hectares cumulatively); and farmers are
facility in Gujarat. for sustainable castor beans. ‘Pragati’, increasing their land dedicated to castor Project starting point
the world’s fi rst sustainable castor pro- farming as it is seen as a profi table crop. The project was driven by a baseline
The Tata Chemicals’ subsidiary gramme was founded in May 2016 by survey of more than 1,000 castor far-
said the proposed capacity addition of French chemicals fi rm Arkema, BASF, The practices followed in the mers in Gujarat, where the majority of the
around 2,000-tpa will require invest- Mumbai-based oleochemicals fi rm, ‘Pragati’ project have resulted in a lower world’s castor supply originates. The
ment of about Rs. 15-crore, which will Jayant Agro-Organics, along with water consumption compared to original baseline study highlighted the
be fi nanced through internal accruals. implementation partner, Solidaridad. conventional practices fact that farmers see castor as a highly
The existing capacity of around ket demand recovery and remain cauti- planning processes for domestic and remunerative and profi table crop, that
5,000-tpa is running at 90% capacity ous about El Nino conditions. Global international businesses, the company After seven years, the programme Farmers from more than 100 vil- is easy to grow and easy to sell. The
utilisation. agrochemical demand is still soft and said in a statement. has had an impressive impact with over lages in North Gujarat now participate goal of the project has been to enable
is expected to recover only next fi nan- 7,000 farmers trained, audited, and certi- in the programme. The partners have sustainable castor crop production by:
The expansion is expected to be cial year. Meanwhile, the company’s Elaborating on the platform, fi ed; over 74,500-tonnes of certifi ed committed to Phase 3 of the ‘Pragati’ Using good agricultural practices to
completed in a phased manner by long-term strategy remains unchanged Mr. Nagarajan S, Chief Operating Offi cer, castor seed cultivated; and year 7 yields project, comprising of three years, increase yield and farmer income; effi -
FY25. The expanded capacity will help and is focused on refreshing product Rallis, said, “Plan Guru will help us 36% higher than the yield published by from 2023-2026. The next phase of the ciently using water resources and main-
meet demand for international as well portfolio, widening of market reach, handle market disruptions more effec- the local government for the region. project will see continued attention taining soil fertility; driving adoption
as domestic markets, the company said. increasing manufacturing capacities tively since the digitalisation brings being paid to sustainable farming with of good waste management practices;
and digitalisation in operations.” greater visibility across the supply According to the report, over 7,000 a special focus on greater female partici- and enabling better health and safety
Rallis said it will also commence chain. Digitised real-time simulations hectares are now being regularly farmed pation and improved water man- practices and respecting human rights.
the construction of an integrated R&D Tool to simplify supply chain ope- of various scenarios allows us to better COURT PERMISSION GRANTED
facility. rations anticipate challenges, mitigate risks,
In another development, Rallis India and maintain a consistent fl ow of ope- Over 11,000 trees to be axed for BPCL’s pipeline
Fall in revenues has announced the launch of ‘Plan rations. This tool will help us optimise
Meanwhile, the company recorded Guru’, a tool to simplify supply chain inventory levels, while maximising project in Maharashtra
revenue of Rs. 598-crore for the third operations in its crop care and seeds customer service levels. This will thus
quarter ending December 31, 2023, as divisions. This is a signifi cant step help build stronger relationships while Thousands of trees are facing the permitted so that BPCL’s goal to reduce the pipeline will not be affected by
compared to Rs. 630-crore in the same in establishing integrated end-to-end improving plant utilisation and opti- axe between Chembur and Raigad in its ‘carbon footprints’ is achieved. natural disasters such as cyclonic
quarter of the past fi scal. Profi t after business planning, response and supply mising capital employed.” Maharashtra for laying 43-km of pipe- storms, fl oods, etc.
tax (after exceptional items) was at lines of Bharat Petroleum Corporation BPCL in its petition said that
Rs. 24-crore, as compared to Rs. 22-crore THDC sets up green hydrogen Ltd. (BPCL). four pipelines passing from Mahul in The report mentioned that BPCL
in the same quarter of the past fi scal. Chembur to Rasayani in the neighbouring was required to move to the High Court
pilot project According to a Hindustan Times Raigad district will reduce the require- for permission as the pipelines pass

Announcing the results, Mr. Sanjiv report, the Bombay High Court has ment of transporting petroleum pro- through lands belonging to the Mumbai
Lal, Managing Director & CEO, Rallis THDC India Ltd., a leading power Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cell. granted permission to the state-owned ducts. BPCL had argued that there is no Port Authority Land and CIDCO. The
India, said, “During the quarter, our do- sector PSU, has set up a pilot project The project developed at the offi ce oil company to cut 11,677 trees, includ- railway line for the transportation of High Court bench allowed BPCL to
mestic business maintained its momen- to produce 50-kg per day of green complex in Rishikesh, has been inaugu- ing 10,582 mangroves, for laying four bulk quantities of petroleum products undertake the project after noticing
tum despite challenging external condi- hydrogen, sourcing input energy from rated by THDC’s Chairman and Man- pipelines from its refi nery in Mahul in between Mahul and Rasayani. Hence, that the fi rm had obtained all requisite
tions, recording volume growth of 7%. a 1-MW rooftop solar plant at its offi ce aging Director (CMD) R. K. Vishnoi in Chembur to Rasayani in Raigad district. the pipeline would completely wipe out permissions from environment Ministry,
However, challenges continued on the complex in Rishikesh. The produced the presence of THDC’s Director the requirement for road transportation, Maharashtra Coastal Zone Manage-
export front due to steep price drop and hydrogen will be stored in two stor- (Personnel) Shallinder Singh and THDC’s “The project was in the larger pub- and apart from reducing transportation ment Authority (MCZMA) and had also
weak demand on account of continuing age tanks and utilised in night hours Director (Technical) Bhupender lic interest,” Justice AS Chandurkar costs, it would also result in a reduction deposited an amount of Rs. 3.70-crore
inventory overhang at industry level. for illumination of the THDC offi ce Gupta along with all other senior and Justice Jitendra Jain said. The cut- of losses on account of loading and with the forest conservation department
We are closely monitoring global mar- complex though a 70-KW Proton offi cers of THDC. ting of more than 11,000 trees has been unloading operations. BPCL added that for compensatory afforestation.

134 Chemical Weekly February 6, 2024 Chemical Weekly February 6, 2024 135

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