Gujarat State Fertilisers and Chemicals (GSFC) today said its Tunisian joint venture is likely to begin supplying phosphoric acid, a critical raw material for making Di-Ammonium Phosphate (DAP) fertilisers by March which would boost its production by up to 4 lakh tonnes.
A raw material supply of 1.80 lakh tonnes from the overseas would enable GSFC augment its fertiliser production capacity by up to 4 lakh tonnes per annum at the Sikka facility, presently undergoing expansion at a capex of Rs 600 crore, a top official said.
The plant currently produces around 7-8 lakh tonnes of DAP annually.
“Trial runs have begun at our plant in Tunisia having 3.60 lakh tonnes annual production capacity, which was set up in collaboration with Coromandal International and two companies of Tunisian government,” GSFC Advisor (Finance) B M Bhorania said.
“We expect phosphoric acid supply from overseas to commence by March-end, which will help us augment our DAP production capacity by 3.90 lakh tonnes at Sikka,” he said, adding that it will help improve topline by Rs 1,500 crore annually.
The commissioning of the plant has got delayed due to political turbulence in Tunisia.
The supply of phosphoric acid from Tunisia is also expected to boost fertiliser production of Coromandal International which also has a long term contract for off-take of 1.80 lakh tonnes of phosphoric acid with the JV.
GSFC and Coromandel International each have 15 per cent equity stake in the production plant in Tunisia while two companies of Tunisian government, Tunisian Chemical Group and Gafna Phosphate Company hold 70 per cent stake in it.
GSFC has a long term supply agreement of 30 years with the JV company, Tunisian Indian Fertiliser plant (TIFERT) for offtake of 1.80 tonnes of phosphoric acid.