President Pranab Mukherjee and Jordananian King Abdullah II today inaugurated the world's largest sulphuric acid plant, an Indian joint venture built at a cost of USD 860 million.
The joint venture between IFFCO (Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited) and JPMC (Jordanian Phosphate Mines Company) plant, which is was conceived in 2007, is now operational in the town of Eshidiya, 325 kms from Jordan's capital city of Amman.
The plant will come as a huge relief to India's agricultural sector requirements in view of meagre availability of phosphates in India.
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Phosphoric acid produced at the plant will be exported to the Kandla port in Gujarat from Jordan's Aqaba port, which is close to the location of the plant.
International Finance Corporation (IFC) has given a loan of USD 335 million to the project in which IFFCO has a 52 per cent stake.
The two leaders inaugurated the plant using remote buttons, with the project and workers visible on a large screen at the Al Husseinieh Palace.
IFFCO's Managing Director and CEO, U S Awasthi, thanked the king for his support to the project and announced a grant of 1,00,000 Jordanian Dinars to Queen Alia's fund to support education in Jordan.
President Mukherjee today arrived here on the first leg of his six-day historic visit to turbulent West Asia.
