GNFC plans capacity expansions

The Bharuch-based Gujarat Narmada Valley Fertiliser Company Ltd (GNFC) plans to expand its fertiliser manufacturing capacity from 6.35 lakh tonne to 8 lakh tonne. The company plans to invest Rs 200 crore over three years for the purpose.

The fertiliser major also plans to increase non-urea fertilisers production for which it will invest around Rs 100 crore. GNFC also plans to produce di-ammonium phosphate (DAP).

Earlier GNFC decided to increase the capacity of its formic acid plant from 10,500 MTA to 12,705 MTA with an investment of Rs 6 crore. 2000 MTA of formic acid is currently being imported every year.

In September last year, GNFC announced plan to invest Rs 250 crore to expand acetic acid manufacturing capacity. GNFC has planned to expand its acetic acid plant increasing the production to 100,000 MTA from the present 50,000 MTA. "With this expansion we hope to increase domestic share by 10 percent to 30 percent against existing share of 20 percent," said an official spokesperson of GNFC.

Within one month of its ambitious plan to expand the acetic acid production capacity, now the company has also decided to invest Rs 6 crore to increase its formic acid production. Formic acid is used as a coagulant for obtaining rubber from latex. An auxiliary for delining and pickling of fur, fixing of dyes-in leather industry, it is also used as an intermediate in manufacturing of basic drugs.