GSFC to join Tunisian firm for fertiliser imports

A Gujarat government undertaking, GSFC, is establishing a joint venture with Tunisia-based government-owned company Tunisia-India Fertilizer Company, company officials said. The joint venture will export phosphoric acid and ammonia to India.

GSFC will import the raw material through its Sikka jetty. The company already has its fertilizer plant at Sikka. The board has approved an additional plant for sulphuric acid at the cost of Rs 40 crore at Sikka with capacity of 250 MTPD.

Further speaking on some more forthcoming projects, GSFC Managing Director P K Taneja said, "The company is contemplating to undertake new projects. GSFC is also exploring to set up its third melamine plant at a cost of Rs 140 crore."

The company has two functional melamine plants at Vadodara with a capacity of 15,000 tonne annually. According to company sources, the project for third plant is in its evaluation stage. Engineering firms are hired for the same and it will be finalised by September-end.

Vadodara's existing Ammonia - I plant will be converted to manufacture methanol at a cost of approximately Rs 260 crore.

For the project, GSFC has entered into agreement with Denmark-based HTAS Technologies for technology transfer. The project's design is ready and the company is hopeful of completing the conversion in 26 months.

The import of phosphoric acid was an issue in the past and the development of the Sikka unit and jetty is a strategic step for the company. GSFC and Coromandel Fertilizers have agreed to the Tunisian operations.

During October last, both the companies formed a consortium in Tunisia with local firms Groupe Chimique Tunisien and Compagnie des Phosphates de Gafsa to produce phosphoric acid.

The company is also undertaking bulk production of in-house developed urea phosphate fertiliser after getting approval from Centre under Fertiliser Control Order (FCO) rules. GSFC is likely to set up a plant for the commercial production of the same.