The government has commenced work on reviving the Talcher fertiliser plant in Odisha, by putting up a brand new factory.

For the purpose, the old redundant plant with obsolete machinery is being disposed off. The Ministry of Fertilizer has appointed two companies -- Metals Scrap Trading Corporation (MSTC) and Projects Development India (PDIL) -- to sell off unusable items and machinery through e-auction.

The project will be implemented by a consortium which includes Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilizers (RCF); Coal India (CIL); GAIL; and Fertilizer Corporation of India (FCIL).

RCF has already carried out geo-technical and topography survey of the project site. The Ministry of Environment & Forests (MoEF) has granted the Terms of Reference (ToR) for the project. And EIA / EMP studies for obtaining environment clearance are in progress.

Further, joint venture companies are being formed for putting up the new coal-based fertiliser plant with a capacity of 11.5 lakh tonne of urea and 3.3 lakh tonne of ammonium nitrate.