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National Fertilizers to set up dinitrogen tetroxide plant for ISRO

It will invest Rs 350 crores for the 1095-MTPA propellant plant, which will be located at Guna (MP)

With GSLV-D6, ISRO can compete in global two-tonne satellite launch market

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Last Updated : Apr 19 2017 | 12:20 PM IST

National Fertilizers Ltd (NFL) will set up a production plant for dinitrogen tetroxide (N2O4) at its Vijaipur (Guna, Madhya Pradesh) site for ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) with an investment of Rs 350 crores. The company has received a letter of intent (LoI) from Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota (SDSC-SHAR) for establishing the plant on build, own, operate & supply model. ISRO had invited tenders for establishing the dinitrogen tetroxide plant in August 2016.

Nitrogen tetroxide is used as oxidiser in specific stages of rocket launch vehicles launched by ISRO and also used for ground testing of specific engines and stages of launch vehicles.

Debt-ridden public sector undertaking (PSU) Hindustan Organic Chemicals Limited (HOCL) is the sole producer of N2O4 for ISRO. With N2O4 production continuing intermittently at HOCL, experts believe ISRO has been looking at setting up a new plant for assured supply of this key chemical.

As per the LoI, National Fertilizers’ N2O4 plant will have capacity of around 1095 MT per annum (or 3 tonnes per day). The company plans to start construction work for the project in July 2017, with commissioning expected in the next 18 months. NFL will supply the product exclusively to SDSC-SHAR under long term agreement for 25 years period.