India, Ghana Consider Urea Plant

Matt Hopkins Posted by Matt Hopkins|8 July 2010

NEW DELHI, India — India’s Fertilizer Secretary, S. Krishnan, and Ghana’s Minister of Food and Agriculture, Kwesi Ahwoi, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to conduct a feasibility study on building a urea plant with an annual capacity of at least one million tonnes in Ghana, reports the Hindustan Times. Ghana would supply gas to the proposed facility and India would provide urea and ammonia manufacturing expertise. The proposed plant would reduce dependence on urea imports by India, which imports over five million tonnes per year. The plant would also help Ghana, which currently uses very little fertilizer for agriculture, increase its cocoa and rice production.

Each country is to designate one company for the project, according to the MoU. Sources say state-owned Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilizers is likely to be named by India for the project. The two entities nominated from each side would examine the feasibility study; if it proves positive, they will sign a final MoU. The entire process could take about a year and a half, sources say.
 

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