Barauni fertilizer factory to be functional by 2010: Paswan

Patna, June 4 (UNI) Union Chemicals, Fertilizers and Steel Minister Ram Vilas Paswan today announced to make the closed units of Barauni Fertilizer factory functional for commercial production by 2010.

After an extensive inspection of the sick units of Barauni Fertilizers, Mr Paswan here today said that all efforts were being made to make it functional and an estimated Rs 3,200 would be spent on its rennovation. He assured that after the facelift of the factory, the production would be resumed by 2010.

He outlined the details of the rennovation and disclosed that this time, the factory would be gas-based instead of neptha and negotiations were on with Reliance Petroleum and Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL).

A high level committee had been constituted by the Fertlizer Ministry to hold negotiations with both the companies to ensure gas supply to Barauni factory, he said.

The minister said the production of urea would be economical if the factory was converted into a gas-based one and the production cost would be up to Rs 11,000 - 12,000 for every tonne of urea.

The factory would be producing more than 10 lakh tonnes of urea every year once its rennovation was over, he added and hoped the gas pipeline would be installed shortly.

Mr Paswan also announced to accomodate the old employees of the factory whose service length were left for more than 10 years and expected that the revival of Barauni Fertlizers would provide direct employment to 10,000 people besides opening new vistas for over one lakh people of the area.

Mr Paswan also announced to talk to Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for scrapping the entry tax on transportation of the machines for settlement of the electricity dues.

Barauni Fertlizers owes Rs 286 crore electricity dues to the Bihar State Electricity Board, of which Rs 3.5 crore was the principal amount.

UNI