India’s first-ever coal gasification based Talcher fertiliser plant in Odisha will be ready by October 2024.
Union Health and Family Welfare and Chemicals and Fertilisers Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya said this after reviewing the progress of work in the plant in Talcher. Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan was also present on the occasion.
Dr. Mandaviya said that when operational, the Talcher fertiliser plant will help the country reduce its dependence on urea import. The plant is being built under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat. Five out of four urea plants are already operational. The plant is being constructed at a cost of about Rs. 17,000 crore and will benefit the farmers across the country, besides generating local employment and boosting the region’s economy.
The Coal India Ltd, the Gas Authority of India Ltd, and the National Fertiliser Corporation are supporting the setting up of the Talcher fertiliser plant with the coal gasification technology. The use of coal, which is abundantly available in India, in alternative uses like in the gasification technology to produce urea, will reduce the carbon footprints on the environment.
Dr. Mandaviya also said that this endeavour will be a significant step towards ensuring energy security of the country through harnessing the vast coal reserves of the country in a manner which is more environment friendly than direct fired coal projects.
