Solar Industries signs MoU with Maharashtra to set up Nagpur plant

The MoU was formalised through Solar Industries' 100-per cent subsidiary Economic Explosives during the ongoing Make in India Week

Industrial explosives manufacturer Solar Industries India has signed a pact with the Maharashtra government to set up a facility in Nagpur with an investment of Rs 1,550 crore to manufacture ammunition for Armed Forces.

The memorandum of understanding (MoU) was formalised by the company through its 100-per cent subsidiary Economic Explosives during the ongoing Make in India week here.

The project will come up in Nagpur, a relatively industry-deficit area of the Vidarbha region, and will generate more than 700 direct jobs.

"This association will go a long way in addressing the hollowness of ammunition being faced by the Indian Armed Forces," Chairman Satyanarayan Nuwal said.

The Solar Group entered the defence sector four years ago and set up India's first HMX plant in the private sector, a large composite propellant plant and facilities to produce various other products like Pyros and War Heads.

The subsidiary company shall be building world-class facilities to produce bi-modular charge systems (BMCS), fully-integrated rockets and a new generation of hand grenades.

"While the facilities are being established with own strength of technical manpower and knowledge base, the know-how for the products shall be obtained from Defence Research and Development Organisation," he added.

The facilities will be completed in 24 months and commercial production will start thereafter.