Production of fertilisers is capital- and energy-intensive process. It involves employment of very sophisticated technologies. The history of production of fertilisers in the country on large scale dates back to 1951. The initial phase of development witnessed construction of small plants of size 200-500 tonnes per day (MTPD) ammonia using a variety of feedstocks and raw materials. Size of ammonia plants increased in next 10-15 years to 600-900 MTPD. But there was use of unproven technologies and equipments due to paucity of foreign exchange. There was also emphasis on developing indigenous capabilities for manufacturing both high temperature and high pressure static equipments and moving machines in form of large compressors, turbines, pumps and fans. Employment of such an approach helped in development of indigenous capabilities but resulted in poor reliability of fertiliser plants.
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