Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilizers, Ananth Kumar, said six to seven fertiliser manufacturing facilities will boost domestic fertiliser production over the next five years at the annual Fertiliser Association of India conference here on Thursday. 

The Minister said the boost in production would be achieved through a mixture of new units and revival of closed ones that will augment the country`s existing capacity. 

Kumar assured the industry that the Government will clear fertiliser subsidy arrears within a month and also said the issues relating to the sector would be addressed at the earliest. 

"For the last one decade, the country has not seen a new fertiliser plant but the Prime Minister has now told us that we should strictly follow the principle of ‘Make In India’. Accordingly we are going to start and revive at least 6-7 fertiliser plants in next 5 years in both public and private sectors," he said. 

At present, about eight units of the State-owned Fertiliser Corporation of India Ltd and Hindustan Fertiliser Corporation are closed. The Ministry is working on reviving five of these closed plants. 

It is also seeking increased supply of natural gas for urea manufacturing plants and has asked the Petroleum Ministry to explore the possibility of a gas pipeline from Phulpur to Haldia. 

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