Union Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers awarded Lump Sum Term Key (LSTK) contract to a Chinese firm for Talcher Fertilizers Limited (TFL). The LSTK contract was awarded to Wuhuan Engineering Company Limited, China for Implementing the coal gasification and ammonia/urea packages of TFL.

In order to augment the domestic urea capacity, revival of closed fertilizer units of Fertilizer Corporation of India Ltd (FCIL) has been top priority agenda of the Union Government. The Government has mandated TFL, a Joint Venture Company of nominated PSUs like RCF, CIL, FCIL and GAIL, to revive the Talcher unit of FCIL, said a release. With an estimated investment of Rs 13277 crore, the project will produce 1.27 MMTPA of neem-coated urea through gasification of a mixed feedstock comprising of high ash Indian coal and petcoke. TFL has been allotted northern part of North Arkhapal mine as captive mine for meeting its coal requirements and petcoke shall be sourced from the Paradip refinery of IOCL. The commissioning of this project is expected in third quarter of 2023.