The Centre has agreed to expedite the process of setting up of a new state-of-the-art urea unit at Namrup in line with the strategy to attain self-sufficiency in urea production.
The urea unit will not only be able to cater to the fertiliser demands of local farmers, but the surplus, if any, could also be exported to the neighbouring countries.
A meeting was held today under the chairmanship of Union Minister of Chemicals and Fertilisers DV Sadananda Gowda, regarding the upcoming 12.7-lakh MMTPA capacity urea plant at Namrup. The meeting was also attended by Minister of State for Food Processing Industries, Rameshwar Teli, State Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Minister of Industries and Commerce Chandra Mohan Patowary, and Secretary (Fertilisers), RK Chaturvedi, CMD, BVFCL, Asim Kumar Ghosh, CMD, OIL, Sushil Chandra Mishra, and CMD, RCF, S Mudgerikar, among others.
Gowda impressed upon the CMDs of stakeholder PSUs to conclude their internal process regarding this project at the earliest.
The Centre was conveyed that the Government of Assam is ready to extend all kind of support to the Namrup project, including financial support to the best extent possible.
Gowda said that bringing development in the North-east region is a priority of the present government. It is, therefore, imperative to expedite the process of setting up of a new state-of-the-art urea unit at Namrup in line with the vision of the Prime Minister to attain self-sufficiency in urea production.
Teli said that Namrup IV unit is important for ensuring local development and creating job opportunities, and therefore the project needs to be expedited.
Patowary added that the Government of Assam is extending incentives to new industries, which can also be availed by the upcoming project to improve its viability.
Gowda later tweeted that “Held a meeting with S @Rameswar_Teli, MoS for Food Processing Industries GoI, @himantabiswa, FM (Assam Govt) and @cmpatowary, Minister for Industry & Commerce (Assam Govt) to discuss issues related to the upcoming Ammonia-Urea plant at Namrup-IV of BVFCL.”
Later, Himanta Biswa Sarma told the waiting newsmen that Gowda had convened a meeting to discuss to form unit IV (at Namrup Fertiliser) and invited all stakeholders.
He said, “Today, the Assam Government has proposed to increase its stake from 11 per cent to 26 per cent. This infusion proposal will be the basis of setting up the unit IV of the fertiliser plant.”
“We are also in regular touch with the Union Finance Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman, regarding the project,” he added.
Teli later told newsmen that today they held a discussion regarding Namrup Fertiliser unit IV in details. The Assam Government has proposed to increase its stake from 11 per cent while a few other private companies have also shown a keen interest to invest in the project.
Meanwhile, Sarma added that the Prime Minister, who is visiting the State, will start the process of distribution of land patta from Sivasagar.
