The Department of Fertilizers recently organized a high-level meeting at PDIL headquarters in Noida to discuss the establishment of green urea plants in India. An Invitation for Expression of Interest was released earlier this week to set up these eco-friendly facilities, as confirmed by the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers.
This initiative signals a significant move towards sustainable agriculture, carbon neutrality, and technological self-reliance, according to the ministry. The meeting saw active participation from various public and private stakeholders, including NTPC, Solar Energy Corporation of India, technology suppliers, Indian fertilizer companies, and manufacturers of green hydrogen and ammonia.
Government support was emphasized during the meeting to ensure the economic viability of green production, with the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy allocating Rs 19,744 crore for critical green energy infrastructure. The Department of Fertilizers will establish a framework to integrate Green Ammonia into the national fertilizer manufacturing chain seamlessly.
To incentivize private sector involvement, a financial incentive scheme under the NGHM (Green Ammonia Mode 2A) was outlined. Additionally, Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) has initiated the procurement of Green Ammonia to support local fertilizer units at competitive prices, despite the higher production costs of Green Ammonia compared to traditional Grey Ammonia.
Discussions also revolved around technical processes, with a focus on the 150 TPD Green Urea pilot plant in Andhra Pradesh, developed by NETRA, the R&D arm of NTPC. This plant serves as a benchmark for integrating advanced Carbon Capture and Utilization systems with water electrolysis, utilizing carbonated fly ash, food-grade materials, and synthetic fuels.
