The Department of Fertilizers (DoF) has taken a major step towards sustainable agriculture, carbon neutrality and technological self-reliance by successfully holding a high-level Pre-Expression of Interest (Pre-EoI) meeting for setting up Green Urea plants across India. Held at the PDIL headquarters in Noida, the meeting was chaired by Dr. K.K. Pathak, Joint Secretary (DoF), who is also Chairman and Managing Director of PDIL. Earlier in the week, the DoF had issued an invitation for Expression of Interest (EoI) for establishing Green Urea plants. The meeting brought together stakeholders from public and private sectors, including NTPC, the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI), ammonia-urea technology suppliers, leading Indian fertilizer companies, and makers of electrolysers, green hydrogen and green ammonia. On policy and operations, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has committed Rs 19,744 crore to scale up green energy infrastructure, while the DoF will build the institutional and market-parity framework. To protect manufacturers from the higher cost of green ammonia compared with grey ammonia, an offtaker-side differential pricing mechanism was framed; SECI has already floated tenders to buy green ammonia and supply it to domestic fertilizer firms at market-linked grey ammonia prices based on a two-week average of the Platts and Argus indices plus customs and local transport. Under the NGHM (Green Ammonia Mode 2A), a target of 7.24 lakh MT/year of green ammonia is to be procured through a transparent e-reverse auction managed by SECI, with benefits secured for 10 years via a binding GAPA/GASA. The 150 TPD Green Urea pilot plant at Pudimadaka in Andhra Pradesh, developed by NETRA (NTPC R&D), serves as the technical benchmark, combining CCUS with water electrolysis. With Net Zero targeted by 2070, the fertilizer sector could become the country's largest and most reliable consumer of captured CO2.
Government Prepares Roadmap for Green Urea Production in India
The Department of Fertilizers held a Pre-EoI meeting at PDIL, Noida, chaired by Dr. K.K. Pathak, to set up Green Urea plants across India, backed by MNRE funding, SECI-led green ammonia procurement and the Pudimadaka pilot plant.
Key facts
- The Department of Fertilizers held a Pre-Expression of Interest (Pre-EoI) meeting at PDIL headquarters, Noida, for setting up Green Urea plants across India.
- The meeting was chaired by Dr. K.K. Pathak, Joint Secretary (DoF), who is also Chairman and Managing Director of PDIL.
- Stakeholders included NTPC, SECI, ammonia-urea technology suppliers, fertilizer companies, and electrolyser, green hydrogen and green ammonia makers.
- The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy committed Rs 19,744 crore for green energy infrastructure; SECI floated tenders for green ammonia using an offtaker-side differential pricing mechanism.
- Under NGHM (Green Ammonia Mode 2A), 7.24 lakh MT/year of green ammonia is to be procured via SECI e-reverse auction, with 10-year benefits secured through GAPA/GASA.
- The 150 TPD Green Urea pilot plant at Pudimadaka, Andhra Pradesh, developed by NETRA (NTPC R&D), combines CCUS with water electrolysis as the technical benchmark.
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With reference to the Pre-EoI meeting held for setting up Green Urea plants in India, consider the following statements:\n1. The meeting was held at the PDIL headquarters in Noida and chaired by Dr. K.K. Pathak, Joint Secretary (Department of Fertilizers).\n2. The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy committed Rs 7,244 crore for green energy infrastructure.\nWhich of the statements given above is/are correct?
Statement 1 is correct: the Pre-EoI meeting was held at PDIL headquarters, Noida, and chaired by Dr. K.K. Pathak, Joint Secretary (DoF), who is also Chairman and Managing Director of PDIL. Statement 2 is incorrect: the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy committed Rs 19,744 crore (not Rs 7,244 crore) for green energy infrastructure. Hence only statement 1 is correct.
Source: Press Information Bureau
Frequently asked questions
What is the purpose of the Pre-EoI meeting held by the Department of Fertilizers?
It was held to take forward the establishment of Green Urea plants across India, bringing together public and private stakeholders after the DoF issued an EoI invitation. It was held at PDIL headquarters, Noida, and chaired by Dr. K.K. Pathak.
How will manufacturers be protected from the higher cost of green ammonia?
Through an offtaker-side differential pricing mechanism. SECI has floated tenders to buy green ammonia and supply it to domestic fertilizer firms at market-linked grey ammonia prices, based on a two-week average of the Platts and Argus indices plus customs and local transport costs.
What is the significance of the Pudimadaka pilot plant?
The 150 TPD Green Urea pilot plant at Pudimadaka in Andhra Pradesh, developed by NETRA (NTPC R&D), serves as the technical benchmark. It combines advanced carbon capture and utilisation (CCUS) with water electrolysis.
Why could the fertilizer sector become a major consumer of captured CO2?
Making green urea requires carbon dioxide, so an external source of CO2 is needed. A large urea plant of 12.7 lakh MT/year capacity needs about 10 lakh MT of CO2 annually, so with India importing about 1 crore MT of urea yearly, the sector could become the country's largest and most reliable consumer of captured CO2.
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