RCF to set up SSP

AUG 24: EIT has suggested that the RCF should also undertake a seeding programme for marketing SSP in these states. Sources said that the ...

AUG 24: EIT has suggested that the RCF should also undertake a seeding programme for marketing SSP in these states. Sources said that the Madhya Pradesh government has offered RCF land in Devas near Indore. However, the site selection will be done only after conducting a detailed techno-economic feasibility study for the project. "The actual cost of the project will be decided only after the findings of the techno-economic feasibility study," sources said.

RCF officials have been in touch with the Madhya Pradesh government for a detailed meeting to chalk out the future course of action. The company has also requested for continous quality power and water supply needed for the plant.

SSP consumption has been on the rise since 1997-98 in these states and there have been requests from the respective state governments, dealers and the RCF field force for making arangements for the SSP supply.

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SSP consumption rose from 5.50 lakh tonne in 1997-98 to 6.08 lakh tonne in 1998-99. Upto February this year, SSP consumption in Maharashtra was recorded at 5.41 lakh tonne.

In Gujarat, SSP consumption stood at 0.80 lakh tonne, 0.77 lakh tonne and 0.65 lakh tonne in the same period. In Madhya Pradesh, SSP consumption has increased from 8.18 lakh tonne in 1997-98 to 9.43 lakh tonne in 1998-99. Upto February, the consumption stood at 7.50 lakh tonne. RCF has marketed nearly 30,000 tonne of SSP during the kharif season in these states. The company plans to market around 20,000 tonne during the rabi season in the current fiscal.

Dharamji Morarjee Chemicals and Rama Krishi Rasayan, who are the largest suppliers of SSP in these states, were contracted to supply the material. The Maharashtra government has fixed the SSP price for the kharif season at Rs 3,100 per tonne. As far as DAP is concerned, RCF has sold 1.23 lakh tonne during the kharif season. The company had approached PPL, Godavari Fertilisers & Chemicals and Oswal Chemicals & Fertilisers for the supply of their DAP in RCF brand – "Shriphala".

RCF has completed the sale of 0.74 lakh tonne of MOP in the kharif season. It had approached IPL for the supply of MOP in its bags. RCF has decided not to go in for the import of urea and has instead decided to source it from the domestic market in the current fiscal. The company had imported nearly 2 lakh tonne during 1999-00. "However, there are certain constraints in the handling of imported fertilisers during the current year," sources said.

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The company has decided not to import urea mainly because JNPT and the Vizag ports have been allotted to other manufacturers who quoted lower rates than RCF this year. The company had handled the import of urea on government account at these ports last year.

During 1999-00, RCF had achieved sales of 29.26 lakh tonne of which 3.39 lakh tonne were imported fertilisers including DAP and MOP. "The company will strive for further improving the sales volumes during current fiscal," the sources noted.