Question : SETTING UP OF FERTILIZER PLANT IN IRAN

(a) whether the Government has revived its plan to set up a fertilizer plants in Iran with an investment worth of crore rupees and also asked the Persian Gulf Nation to offer long term gas contract for manufacturing the soil nutrient:

(b) if so, the details thereof and the response of the Iranian Government:

(c) the names of companies nominated by the Government for the proposed urea joint venture plant:

(d) the time by which the fertilizer plants are likely be set up and made operationalized, and

(e) the other steps taken/being taken by the Government in this regard?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS & FERTILIZERS (SHRI HANSRAJ GANGARAM AHIR)

(a)to (c): Yes. Madam The proposal is to set up a Urea/Ammonia JV Project in Iran with capacity to produce 1 3 Million MT Urea for import to India Rashtriya Chemicals & Fertilizers Ltd., Gujarat Narmada Valley Fertilizers S Chemicals Ltd. and Gujarat State Fertilizers & Chemicals Ltd have been identified as Indian Companies in the JV.

(d) & (e): The Indian companies have appointed SBI Capital to identify the Iranian Partners for the Joint Venture Project The issue has been taken up with the Iranian Government to accord importance to the project at par with their domestic projects.