RCF to invest Rs 363 cr in Thal units for energy cuts

State-run RCF is planning to invest Rs 363 crore for reducing consumption of energy at its two urea-ammonia units in Thal in Maharashtra.
The Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilisers (RCF) is looking to change the existing steam turbine driven machinery to the motor driven mode in the two units.
The latest move by RCF is in line with government's new urea policy, which lays emphasis on making the production units more energy efficient.
"We are planning to reduce our energy consumption at company's two units at Thal, to make the plants more energy efficient. And for this the company is looking to invest Rs 363 crore ," RCF Chairman and Managing Director R G Rajan told PTI.

The proposed changes may save around 10,601 SM3/hr (standard cubic meter per hour) of natural gas, 6,643 cubic meter per day (CMPD) of water and 233 metric tonne per hour (MTPH) of high pressure steam.
The specific energy consumption of its ammonia and urea is 8.15 Gcal/MT and 5.8 Gcal/MT respectively, on the basis of daily averages. After the efficiency drive, the specific energy of urea shall be reduced further by 0.354 GCal/MT.

The combined production capacity of its two units at Thal is more than 2 million tonnes.
RCF Ltd is engaged in production and marketing of nitrogenous and complex fertilisers, besides industrial chemicals at its manufacturing units in Trombay and Thal.

The company produces 23 lakh tonnes of urea, 6.5 lac tonne of complex fertilisers and 1.6 lac tonnes of Industrial Chemicals every year.
RCF also plans to set up Thal III project with an estimated amount of Rs 4,500 crore and capacity of about 1.27 million tonne (mt) of urea per annum.