Coromandel International, India’s second largest phosphatic fertilizer player and part of Murugappa Group, announced plans to set up 1,650 metric tonnes per day (tpd) sulphuric acid plant at its fertiliser complex in Visakhapatnam at an investment of Rs 4 billion.
Announcing the plan, the company also signed technology partnership agreements with MECS (Monsanto Enviro-Chem Systems) and TKIS (ThyssenKrupp Industrial Solutions).
At present, India is a net importer of sulphuric acid, and the third largest buyer globally, accounting for close to two million tonnes of imports.
“In line with the Atmanirbhar Bharat vision for import substitution and promotion of local manufacturing, Coromandel has announced the setting up of a new 1,650 tpd sulphuric acid plant at Visakhapatnam,” said Arun Alagappan, Executive Vice Chairman, Coromandel International. He added that the investment will improve the self-sufficiency and availability of phosphatic fertiliser in the country.
Speaking on the event, Brian Blair, Global Licensing Manager, MECS USA said, “We are excited to be part of a project that provides Coromandel a state-of-the-art sulphuric acid plant with carbon free power generation and to be able to support it with our many decades of expertise in sulphuric acid plant technology.”
Speaking on the occasion, Rajesh Kamath, CEO & MD TKIS India said, “Coromandel International remains one of our most esteemed customers in the Phosphatic Fertilizer space. Our relationship with them dates back to the nineties when we set up an ammonia tank terminal in Ennore. This was followed by many Di‐Ammonium Phosphate/NPK Fertiliser plants, cryogenic ammonia storages and Phosphoric Acid plants. The sulphuric acid project is one more opportunity to take our excellent business relationship forward.”
The new sulphuric acid plant for which the investment has been announced, will add another 500,000 tonnes a year of sulphuric acid production capacity to the existing 600,000 tonnes, giving a combined capacity of 1.1 million tonnes.
The investment is in line with Coromandel’s long-term objectives to secure key raw materials for its fertiliser production.
The 1,650 tpd project will be set up within Coromandel’s existing Visakhapatnam plant premises. The Visakhapatnam manufacturing unit of Coromandel has a production capacity of 1.3 million tonnes per annum of complex fertilisers and a captive phosphoric acid production capacity of close to 400,000 tonnes per annum.
Currently, Coromandel International is the largest private phosphatic fertiliser manufacturer and marketer in India and has been a trusted partner for farmers. Coromandel is among India’s leading agri solutions providers, offering diverse products and services across the farming value chain. It offers fertilisers, crop protection solutions, bio pesticides, specialty nutrients and organic solutions to farmers and also operates one of India’s largest agri retail chain, ‘Mana Gromor’, reaching directly to over three million farmers a year.