Dibrugarh: Namrup Fertilizer Surakshya United Forum has welcomed the new urea fertilizer plant in Namrup and said it will boost industrialisation in Assam.
“We are happy that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lay the foundation stone for the new urea plant on December 21. The project will cost nearly Rs 11,000 crore and produce 1.2 million metric tonnes of urea annually. But we are concerned about the Namrup 3 plant, which has already crossed its lifespan. It has been running for 38 years and now produces 900 metric tonnes per day,” said Tileswar Bora, president of the forum.
Bora added, “Project Development India Limited (PDIL) recently surveyed Namrup 3 and found it can run for at least 10 more years if repaired. We have submitted a Rs 500-crore proposal to the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers for its revival. Over 400 workers depend on this plant, and any sudden breakdown will severely affect their livelihoods.”
He said, “We welcome the government’s decision for the new plant. But it must also focus on the existing facility. We urge the government to release funds for repairs. We are hopeful they will act.”
Bora noted that the new plant will take 6–7 years to start production. “If Namrup 3 breaks down before that, what will happen to the workers of BVFCL?” he asked.
The new urea plant will be implemented under Assam Valley Fertiliser and Chemical Company Limited (AVFCCL) at an estimated cost of Rs 11,000 crore.
“There is a huge shortage of urea in India. The country lacks 80 lakh metric tonnes, forcing farmers to buy urea at higher prices. We also have to import urea at steep costs,” Bora said.
He thanked MLA Tarang Gogoi for taking an interest in the revival of Namrup 3.
Sib Prasad Mohanty, Managing Director of AVFCCL, said the existing BVFCL plant produces about 0.2 million metric tonnes annually, while the new plant will produce 1.27 million tonnes per year.
The project’s shareholding will include 40% by the Assam Government, 18% by Oil India Limited and National Fertilisers Limited, 13% by Hindustan Urvarak & Rasayan Limited (HURL), and 11% by BVFCL. BVFCL will provide land and infrastructure, while the other partners will invest capital.
The Rs 10,600-crore project is expected to finish within four years. It will create direct jobs for 425 people and indirect jobs for nearly 2,500 others. Mohanty assured that existing BVFCL employees will retain their jobs and will be absorbed into the new company. Like the current plant, the new facility will supply urea to neighbouring countries such as Nepal, Bhutan, and Myanmar.