(a) whether the Government has taken any steps to identify the new technology of
extracting potash fertilizers from the sea water;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether such technology is likely to substitute the present demand for potash
fertilizers; and
(d) if so, the details thereof?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PLANNING; MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EARTH SCIENCES (ASHWANI KUMAR)
(a) to (d) Yes, Madam. The Central Salt and Marine Chemicals Research Institute (CSMCRI), Bhavnagar,
a constituent laboratory of Central Scientific Industrial Research (CSIR) has developed a process
technology for producing Sulphate of Potash from sea bittern and has patented the technology. The
National Manufacturing Competitiveness Council (NMCC), alongwith Department of Science and Technology,
Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, and Fertilizer Association of India, New Delhi have identified
this patented process of CSIR-CSMCRI as a promising new technology of extracting Sulphate of Potash
(SOP) from sea water. As a pilot effort, two test beds (0.75 tonnes per day at CSMCRI, Bhavnagar and
3 tonnes per day at M/s Tata Chemicals Ltd., Mithapur) have been sanctioned by Department of Science
and Technology during 2010-11 and 2011-12 respectively for integrated production of Fertilizer Control
Order (FCO) grade SOP. Once these pilot test beds become a success story, the technology could be
leveraged to a commercial scale manufacturing plants. The nation`s present demand for Potash fertilizers
is at the order of 5 million tonnes per year.