Rs 50,000 cr plan to revive shut fertiliser plants, build new gas pipelines

Once running, these units will make India self-sufficient in urea by 2020-21

The Central government and cash-rich coal, power and oil PSUs will jointly invest over Rs 50,000 crore to revive closed fertiliser plants and set up new gas pipelines, in a move aimed at making India self-sufficient in urea by 2020-21 and negating the need for imports.

Briefing reporters after a mid-course assessment on revival of closed plants in India, fertiliser minister Ananth Kumar said as and when all the five closed fertiliser units start full-fledged operations, India's annual domestic urea production would rise to about 7.3 million tonnes, and help meet the demand of 31-32 million tonnes.

Besides investing in rebuilding the