The construction works of the urea fertiliser plant at Talcher will be completed by September 2024. This was informed by Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilizers Bhagwant Khuba in the Rajya Sabha in response to a question by BJD MP Prasanta Nanda.

The Union Minister pointed out that the construction of the coal gas based fertilizer plant at Talcher is going backwards. The Minister blamed the Covid pandemic for this. The Union Minister said that after getting the permission for this urea plant in September 2019, there was a Covid epidemic outbreak all over the world, including India. Due to the two waves of Covid, work was delayed and various items needed for the factory could not be allocated.

Meanwhile, the Coal Ministry has provided coal mines on a long-term basis for the plant with environmental clearance. Its installation has started with the arrival of coal gasifial in the factory area. Apart from urea reactor, all other important equipment for the ammonia urea plant have already arrived. Out of the three chimneys, construction work of two has been completed while one boiler drum is being installed.

The construction of the water treatment plant is underway while the construction of the reservoir is about to be completed. Various machinery is being installed. Similarly, construction of administrative building, training building, first aid center, new police station, guest house and central warehouse has been completed. A total expenditure of Rs 4,200 crore has been estimated for this. However, the Talcher Fertilizer Board has re-estimated that the work will be completed in September 2024, keeping in view the rate at which the work is going on.