6 new urea units set up under New Investment Policy: Union Minister Anupriya Patel

New Delhi: The Centre has said that it set up 6 new urea units with a production capacity of 12.7 lakh tonne each under New Investment Policy to facilitate fresh investment in the urea sector.

An exclusive policy for the revival of the Talcher unit of FCIL through JVC of nominated PSUs namely Talcher Fertilizers Limited (TFL) by setting up a new Greenfield urea plant of 12.7 lakh tonne per annum at coal gasification route has also been approved, Union Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilizers Anupriya Patel said in a written reply in Rajya Sabha.

In addition, the Government also notified the New Urea Policy (NUP) – 2015 on 25th May, 2015 for the existing 25 gas-based urea units with one of the objectives of maximizing indigenous urea production. These steps together have facilitated an increase of Urea production from a level of 225 lakh tonne per annum during 2014-15 to a record urea production at 314.09 lakh tonne during 2023-24, she said.

In case of Phosphatic & Potassic fertilizers (P&K), the companies are free to import /produce fertilizer raw materials, intermediaries and finished fertilizers as per their business dynamics. Based on the requests, the new manufacturing units or increase in manufacturing capacity of existing units have been recognized / taken on record under the NBS subsidy scheme, with a view to boost manufacturing and make country self-reliant in fertilizer production.

To promote Potash derived from Molasses (PDM) which is 100 per cent indigenously manufactured fertilizer, it has been notified under Nutrient based subsidy (NBS) regime w.e.f 13.10.2021. Also, freight Subsidy on SSP, which is an indigenously manufactured fertilizer, has been made applicable since Kharif 2022 to help in promotion of SSP usage for providing Phosphatic or “P” nutrient to the soil. These steps have facilitated increase in production of P&K fertilizers from 159.54 lakh tonne in 2014-15 to 182.85 lakh tonne in 2023-24, the Minister said

The recommendations of the Standing Committee on Chemicals and Fertilizers regarding reduction of GST on micronutrients and raw materials was taken to 53rd GST Council which has referred the matter to the Group of Ministers (GoM) on Rate Rationalisation for a holistic view, she said.