(a) whether the Government panel headed by the Secretary of the Mines’ Ministry
has recommended for a Public–Private Partnership for acquiring fertilizer mineral
assets abroad during the Twelfth Five Year Plan period;
(b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
(c) the estimated funds likely to be invested by the public and private sector for
the said purpose; and
(d) the time by which a final decision is likely to be taken by the Government in
this regard?
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) IN THE MINISTRY OF STATISTICS AND PROGRAMME
IMPLEMENTATION AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS
(SHRI SRIKANT KUMAR JENA)
(a)&(b): In the Working Group Report on Mineral Exploration and Development (other than
Coal and Lignite) for the XIIth Five Year Plan submitted by the Ministry of Mines to the
Planning Commission for the Mineral Sector, the report by the Sub-Group-II on “Strategy
based upon the demand and supply for Mineral Sector†recommends that a concentrated effort
should be made by making consortium of public, private companies to acquire assets abroad
specifically in the countries like Uzbekistan, Jordan etc, and has proposed creation of
a new Central Scheme in the XII Plan with fund requirement of Rs. 1000 crore.
(c)&(d): The fund allocation for the scheme is subject to deliberation in the Planning
Commission and thus the time frame for commencement can not be indicated at present.