Agartala: At a time when Tripura Government is pursuing the state-owned exploration company, Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) Limited to invest in fertilizer sector in Tripura, Hyderabad-based NSL Fertilizer Venture Pvt Ltd has sought clearance from the state government to set up a manufacturing unit.
NSL Chairman M Prabhakar Rao in a letter to the state government last week stated that the company had been working for the project over a year and they were all set to invest at least Rs 6000 crore in Grass Root Ammonia Urea Fertilizer manufacturing in the state.
“The NSL project has already been recommended by Ministry of Fertilizer and referred it to Ministry of Petroleum to ensure necessary gas supply for the proposed project in September last year and we are hoping to get the project cleared soon,” Mr Rao pointed out.
NSL Pvt Ltd along with Krishak Bharati Cooperative Ltd would implement the project and requested the state government to facilitate in obtaining clearance from the Ministry of Environment and Forest while underlined that NSL had expressed interest to go for joint venture with ONGC in fertilizer project.
With the request of Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar ONGC’s Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) Sudhir Vasudeva recently attributed to explore the possibility of investment in fertilizer sector and accordingly.
ONGC haas engaged Noida-based Projects & Development India Limited (PDIL), a premier design engineering and consultancy organisation, committed towards technological excellence and self-reliance in the growth of the fertilizer and allied chemical industries to study the feasibility of the proposed project.
ONGC had found a huge gas reservoir in North Tripura (close to Mizoram border) and subsequent exploration in nearby areas had also yielded positive indication.
But the transportation of the gas from the northern parts through the high terrine to west or south of Tripura would not be viable.
So it had persuaded to go for investment in fertilizer industry at the gas source, as Tripura was facing in occasional fertilizer crisis.
Meanwhile, a senior official of ONGC indicated that after supplying gas to two big power projects in Palatana and Monarchak.
ONGC would not have much gas to supply for fertilizer industry any more but because of Chief Minister’s persuasion CMD ONGC comment to consider the proposal of the fertilizer project. (UNI)