Phosphate, pesticide, and specialty fertilizer producer Coromandel International Ltd., Hyderabad, India, on Nov. 16 announced plans to build a new sulfuric acid production facility onsite at the company’s fertilizer production facility in Visakhapatnam, located in Andhra Pradesh state.
The INR 400 crore ($53.8 million) plant will feature a nameplate 1,650 mt/d production capacity, lifting Coromandel’s total sulacid capacity to approximately 1.1 million mt/y. Coromandel will partner with Monsanto Enviro-Chem Systems (MCES) and ThyssenKrupp Industrial Solutions (TKIS) on the project.
“Considering the essential nature of fertilizers, this investment will improve the self-sufficiency and availability of phosphatic fertilizer in the country,” said Coromandel Executive Vice Chairman Arun Alagappan.
“India is a net-importer of sulfuric acid, and the third largest importer globally, accounting for close to 20 lakh (2 million) mt of imports,” Alagappan said, adding the new production plant was “in line with the vision of our honorable Prime Minister for import substitution and promotion of local manufacturing.”
India’s second-largest phosphate manufacturer, Coromandel produces 1.3 million mt/y of complex fertilizers, as well as 400,000 mt/y of phosphoric acid, the company said.