Hindustan Zinc(HZL), a Vedanta subsidiary, is constructing a 0.5 million tonne (MT) per annum fertiliser production facility at Chanderiya in Rajasthan’s Chittorgarh district.
HZL Fertiliser production facility in Rajasthan:
The fertiliser manufacturing facility will primarily produce phosphatic fertilisers, such as di-ammonium phosphate (DAP) and NPK (Nitrogen, Phosphate and Potassium) nutrients, when it is put into service in the following two years.
HZL would spend nearly INR 2,500 crore to build the fertiliser facility, which also includes a roaster plant. In addition to obtaining 60 to 70 percent of its raw materials from smelters, the fertiliser company intends to source rock phosphate from Rajasthan.
On the rationale of setting up the soil nutrients plant, Arun Misra, CEO, HZL said, the fertiliser company produces substantial quantities of sulphuric acid as a by-product, which is a major raw material for downstream fertiliser units. The unit will supply soil nutrients to farmers in and around Rajasthan.
The HZF plant will also produce premium coated, crop-specific, and micronutrient-based fertilisers in addition to the bulk fertilisers.
Officials said the new fertiliser plant may reduce import dependence of the DAP variety of fertiliser, as nearly half of the country’s requirements are imported via west Asia, Jordan and Senegal. Imports account for a third of domestic consumption of all varieties of soil nutrients.