Call for Expression of Interest

 

 

Advertisements inviting Expression of Interest have been inserted for long-term supply of some of the raw materials/intermediates and for implementation of some of the potential projects. The details of these are given briefly in the following sections. Interested parties can contact FACT for any further information required in this regard.

 

 

GENERAL INFORMATION

 

 

The Fertilisers And Chemicals Travancore Limited (FACT) has the following 3 Production Divisions:

 

1.     Udyogamandal Division

 

2.     Cochin Division

 

3.     Petrochemical Division

 

Udyogamandal and Petrochemical Divisions are located at Udyogamandal, about 20 KM from Cochin City. These two divisions together form the Udyogamandal Complex of FACT.

 

Cochin Division is located at Ambalamedu, also about 20 KM from Cochin City.

 

The plants in these units, products, installed capacities and the normal operating capacities are as below:

 

Sl.No.

Plant

Product

Installed Capacity

MTPA

Operating Capacity

MTPA

 

Udyogamandal Complex

 

Udyogamandal Division

1

Ammonia  Plant

Ammonia  &

Synthesis Gas

326,700

(including Syn - Gas as Ammonia)

326,700

(including Syn - Gas as Ammonia

2

SO2 / Sulphuric Acid Plant

Sulphur Dioxide &

Sulphuric Acid

181,500

(as H2SO4)

181,500

(as H2SO4)

3

DCDA Sulphuric Acid Plant

Sulphuric Acid &

Oleum

198,000

(as H2SO4)

198,000

(as H2SO4)

4

Phosphoric Acid

Plant

Phosphoric Acid

33,000

(as P2O5)

12,000

(as P2O5)

5

Complex Fertilizer

Plant

Factamfos

(NP 20:20:0:13)

148,500

195,000

6

Ammonium Sulphate Plant

Ammonium Sulphate

225,000

225,000

Petrochemical Division

 1

Caprolactam

Plant

Caprolactam

50,000

50,000

 

Cochin Division

 

Phase-I

1

Ammonia Plant

Ammonia

198,000

Suspended

2

Urea Plant

Urea

330,000

Suspended

Phase-II

1

Sulphuric Acid Plant

Sulphuric Acid

330,000

(as H2SO4)

366,300

(as H2SO4)

2

Phosphoric Acid Plant

Phosphoric Acid

115,000

(as P2O5)

74,000

(as P2O5)

3

Complex Fertilizer Plant

Factamfos

(NP 20:20:0:13)

485,000

630,000

 

 

The feedstock for the Ammonia Plants is Naphtha, supplied by Kochi Refineries Limited (KRL). The fuel used in the boilers is Furnace Oil/LSHS, which is also supplied by KRL.

 

Sulphur required for the Sulphuric Acid Plants and Rock Phosphate required for the Phosphoric Acid Plants are imported through Cochin Port.

 

Benzene, the main raw material for Caprolactam, is procured indigenously. The other inputs required for Caprolactam like Ammonia, Sulphur Dioxide, Oleum and Carbon Dioxide are from captive production. Ammonium Sulphate is generated as a co-product of Caprolactam.

 

The captive production of Sulphuric Acid is not sufficient to meet the entire requirement of Sulphuric Acid for production of Phosphoric Acid and Factamfos. Hence, Phosphoric Acid production is restricted to that possible with the balance Sulphuric Acid available after meeting the requirement of Factamfos. Similarly, captive Phosphoric Acid production is not sufficient to meet the full requirement of Phosphoric Acid for production of Factamfos. The deficit in Sulphuric Acid and Phosphoric Acid is covered to the extent possible with outsourcing of these intermediates.

 

Re-commissioning of the facilities in Cochin Port for import of Ammonia is in progress. It is expected that the facilities will be ready for import of Ammonia by May 2006, so that it will be possible to switch over to imported Ammonia when the landed price of imported Ammonia is cheaper than the Naphtha-based captive Ammonia.

 

The proposed LNG terminal in Cochin is expected to be operative by 2009. LNG can be used as feedstock and fuel in place of costly Naphtha and Furnace Oil, once the gas is available. The possibilities of sourcing Natural Gas either as Regassified Liquefied Natural Gas (RLNG) or as Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) even at an earlier date, are being explored.

Production of Urea has been suspended in Cochin Division, as operation of the Naphtha-based, energy-intensive Ammonia/Urea Plants of 1970 vintage has become unviable under the present Group Pricing Policy.

 

The possibility of reviving Urea production, when gas supply is available, is being explored.

 

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1.     Supply of Regassified Liquefied Natural Gas (RLNG) or Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) for use as feedstock and fuel in the Fertiliser Units

 

 

At present, FACT uses Naphtha as the feedstock for its Ammonia Plants. Furnace Oil is used as the fuel for the Boilers of Captive Power Plants, Dryers in the Complex Fertilizer Plants and certain other equipments. As the cost of Naphtha and Furnace Oil are high, FACT is looking into the possibility of switching over to Natural Gas as feedstock and fuel at the earliest. Since there is no gas source in Kerala, Natural Gas will have to be brought from the available sources either in India or abroad.

 

Natural Gas is required to be delivered at the battery limits of FACT’s production units at Udyogamandal (Udyogamandal Complex) and at Ambalamedu (Cochin Division). The estimated requirements of Natural Gas are as follows:

 

Division

Gas Requirement

MMSCMD

Gas Requirement

MMTPA

Udyogamandal Complex

1.20

0.31

Cochin Division

0.05 to 1.01

0.01 to 0.26

Total

1.25 to 2.21

0.32 to 0.57

 

 

Natural Gas can be supplied either as Regassified Liquefied Natural Gas (RLNG) or as Compressed Natural Gas (CNG).

 

FACT invites expression of interest from parties who would be in a position to supply RLNG/CNG to FACT on a long-term basis.

 

The scope of the party will include the following:

 

a)     Sourcing of the gas from countries where gas is available

 

b)     Shipping the gas either as Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) or as Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)

 

c)      Unloading, Handling and Storage at Cochin Port

 

d)     Regassification of the liquefied gas in the case of LNG

 

e)     Pipeline Transmission of the gas from Cochin Port to the battery limits of FACT’s production units at Udyogamandal/Ambalamedu

 

All the facilities required for the above operations have to be provided by the supplier. Only the facilities required for handling the gas within the battery limits of the production units will be provided by FACT.

 

 

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2.     SETTING UP FACILITIES FOR PRODUCTION OF SULPHURIC ACID & PHOSPHORIC ACID OR LONG-TERM SUPPLY OF THESE INTERMEDIATES

 

 

In the present operation pattern, the captive production of Sulphuric Acid is not sufficient to meet the entire requirement of Sulphuric Acid for production of Phosphoric Acid and Factamfos. Hence Phosphoric Acid production is restricted to that possible with the balance Sulphuric Acid available after meeting the requirement of Factamfos. Similarly, captive Phosphoric Acid production is not sufficient to meet the full requirement of Phosphoric Acid for production of Factamfos. The deficit in Sulphuric Acid and Phosphoric Acid is covered to the extent possible with outsourcing of these intermediates.

 

The present deficit of Sulphuric Acid is about 0.1 MMTPA and that of Phosphoric Acid is also about 0.1 MMTPA (as P2O5). In case captive production of Phosphoric Acid is to be increased to the full capacity, the requirement of additional Sulphuric Acid would be of the order of 0.3 MMTPA. In this scenario, there will be a corresponding reduction of external Phosphoric Acid requirement.

 

The interested parties will have to clearly understand the present material balancing and offer a suitable option for bridging the deficit of Sulphuric Acid and Phosphoric Acid so that production of end-products could be maintained at the maximum possible levels. Some of the options available are:

 

a)    Set up new Sulphuric Acid/Phosphoric Acid Plants in FACT Cochin Division premises to meet the entire additional requirement of Sulphuric Acid and Phosphoric Acid

 

The concept of the proposal is to set up additional captive production facilities to meet the entire requirement of Sulphuric Acid and Phosphoric Acid.

 

Preliminary studies indicate the possibility of revamping the existing Phosphoric Acid Plant at Cochin Division with capacity enhancement from the present level of 115,000 MTPA to about 160,000 MTPA. The order of magnitude of the investment required is Rs 40 crore.

 

A new Sulphuric Acid Plant of 363,000 MTPA can be installed, which can cater to the present deficit and also meet the additional requirement due to the increase in captive production of Phosphoric Acid. The investment would be about Rs 100 crore.

 

The project can be set up either on a Build, Own, Operate and Transfer basis or as a Joint Venture. The land required and other infrastructural facilities available could be used for the project. But the raw materials like Sulphur and Rock Phosphate will have to be arranged by the interested party.

 

Enhancing the captive production of Sulphuric Acid and Phosphoric Acid would necessitate augmentation of the existing facilities at Cochin Port for handling the additional quantities of imported raw materials. The estimated investment is about Rs 20 crore. The modalities of implementation can be discussed and finalized.

 

b)    Set up new Sulphuric Acid/Phosphoric Acid plants in a place of supplier’s choice

 

New Plants for production of Sulphuric Acid and Phosphoric Acid can be set up at a place of supplier’s choice and these intermediates can be supplied to FACT. The possibility of setting up these units near the sources of raw materials could be explored.

 

These projects could be implemented with the equity participation of FACT.

 

c)     Supply of Sulphuric Acid and Phosphoric Acid on a long-term basis from the existing production facilities of supplier

 

Another option is to supply the Sulphuric Acid and Phosphoric Acid required by FACT on a long-term basis. The supplier should have their own production facilities to ensure uninterrupted supplies.

 

In this case the requirement will be about 0.1 MMTPA of Sulphuric Acid and about 0.1 MMTPA of Phosphoric Acid (as P2O5).

 

The scope of the supplier will include transportation of the material from the source and delivery into the storage tanks in FACT’s production units.

 

 

 

 

3.     SETTING UP FACILITIES FOR PRODUCTION/LONG-TERM SUPPLY OF UREA

 

The production of Urea in FACT Cochin Division has been suspended as the operation has become unviable under the present Group Pricing Scheme for Urea. The Ammonia/Urea Plants are of 1970 vintage. The specific energy consumption is high compared to the modern plants. Revamp of the plant to achieve energy efficiency levels of new generation plants would necessitate substantial capital infusion. Once LNG is available, unit energy cost will come down. But still, the specific energy consumption will be high unless the plants are revamped.

 

To cater to the market requirement in the Southern States of Kerala, Tamilnadu, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, FACT requires about 3,00,000 MTPA of Urea. Some of the options available are:

 

a)    Supply of the required quantity of Urea from the existing production facilities of the supplier

 

The required quantity of Urea (about 3,00,000 MTPA) can be supplied on a long-term basis from the existing production units of the supplier.

 

b)    Set up new Ammonia/Urea Plants in a place of supplier’s choice, with equity participation of FACT

 

The option is to set up new Ammonia and Urea Plants by the supplier at a location of supplier’s choice. FACT will have equity participation in the project. The location could be near a gas source so that gas is available at a substantially lower cost. The Urea produced can be supplied to FACT. A plant of higher capacity could also be set up to take advantage of the economies of scale. In such a case, the quantity available over and above FACT’s requirement could be marketed to external consumers.

 

c)     Set up a new Ammonia Plant and revamp the existing Urea Plant at FACT’s Cochin Division, on a Build, Own. Operate and Transfer basis or as a Joint Venture Company

 

The 198,000 MTPA Ammonia Plant and the 330,000 MTPA Urea Plant of FACT Cochin Division are of 1970 vintage. The energy consumption is high compared to the new generation plants. With the present cost of production, the operation is not viable.

 

Revamping the Ammonia Plant will involve high investment due to the vintage of the plant and due to certain inherent technical limitations in the plant. Preliminary studies indicate that it may not be economically feasible to revamp this plant.

 

The Urea Plant is in a better condition and it is possible to revamp the unit with a reasonable investment.

 

The suppliers can study the plants and ascertain the technical and economic feasibility of reviving Urea production in Cochin Division. A suggested model is as below:

 

The project proposes re-establishing urea production by FACT by revamping the existing Urea plant at Cochin Division using latest revamp technology for achieving a production of 1300 TPD Urea. An LNG based ammonia plant of capacity 1350 TPD matching with the ammonia requirements of Urea and NP production at CD is also considered. This project for the reestablishing Urea production at CD takes into consideration the following:

 

a)     The existing Urea Plant of 2 X 500 TPD capacity can be revamped such that the capacity of 1300 TPD can be achieved.

 

b)     The new LNG based 1350 MTPD Ammonia Plant has the economy of scale and would be based on the latest, proven technology, which will be energy efficient.

 

c)      Sustained, energy efficient production from the gas based Ammonia Plant can be ensured and the energy consumption of the revamped Urea Plant is comparable with the new generation plants.

 

 

d)     Existing facilities like utility systems for water, power, steam, instrument air etc., storage systems, prilling tower, bagging plant etc can be used which will make the proposal more attractive. Augmentation of capacities wherever required only need be provided

 

The indicative investment for the project is Rs 1000 crore.

 

All infrastructure facilities and utility units of the existing ammonia urea complex like bagging plant, water supply and treatment systems, captive power plant, instrument air system etc will be provided by FACT. Also FACT will provide developed land within the factory complex for the new Ammonia Plant. Scope envisaged for the parties is to set up the Ammonia Urea complex at FACT Cochin Division on a Build, Own, Operate and Transfer basis or as a Joint Venture.

 

FACT will consume the requirement of Ammonia for NP production from the new Ammonia Plant. Participation of FACT can include engineering and project management services during project implementation and marketing of product Urea. The details of the scope and responsibility matrix for the project shall be concluded after detailed discussions.

 

d)    Set up a new Urea Plant at FACT premises, using Ammonia and Carbon Dioxide supplied by FACT from its existing Ammonia Plant at FACT’s Udyogamandal Complex, on a Build, Own, Operate and Transfer basis or as a Joint Venture

 

The Ammonia Plant in FACT’s Udyogamandal Complex has a capacity to produce 297,000 MTPA of Ammonia and 29,700 MTPA of Synthesis Gas (in terms of Ammonia). Ammonia is used for the production of Complex Fertilizers and Caprolactam/Ammonium Sulphate. The Synthesis Gas produced is used in the production of Caprolactam.

 

A portion of the Carbon Dioxide produced in the Ammonia Plant is used in the Caprolactam process and a small portion is sold directly to consumers. But there is no use for the major portion of Carbon Dioxide generated.

 

It is possible to set up a new Urea Plant of 363,000 MTPA using Ammonia and Carbon Dioxide from the Ammonia Plant. The Ammonia requirements of Complex Fertilizers and Caprolactam/Ammonium Sulphate could be met by imported Ammonia. The suggested project profile is as below:

 

The proposal is to set up a new single stream Urea Plant of 1100 MTPD capacity.

 

 

Land, Ammonia, Carbon Dioxide, and utilities to the extent available will be supplied by FACT. The project can be set up on a Build, Own, Operate and Transfer basis or as a Joint Venture. The scope of parties shall include supply of Urea Plant, product handling and bagging facilities and augmentation of utilities. Participation of FACT can include engineering and project management services during project implementation and marketing of the bagged products. The details of the scope and responsibility matrix for the project shall be concluded after detailed discussions.

 

The indicative investment of the project is Rs 350 crore.

 

 

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4.     GYPSUM  BASED  PROJECTS

 

 

FACT is producing Phospho-gypsum as a by-product during manufacture of phosphoric Acid at the rate of about 5 MT for every tonne of Phosphoric Acid produced. Over the years, more than 3.0 Million tonnes of accumulated Phospho-gypsum is stockpiled at our Ambalamedu as well as Udyogamandal premises near Kochi.  The typical analysis of Phospho-gypsum is given below:

 

            CaSO4                              --       95.32%        wt/wt dry basis

          Total P2O5                        --       1.047%                      

          Water soluble P2O5            --       0.203%                    

          Free Moisture                   --       20.42%        wt/wt

 

The company proposes to set up a Building Products Park near to its Gypsum Yard where prospective investors could set up production units utilizing Gypsum.

 

FACT invites Expression of Interest from interested parties for setting up manufacturing facilities for production of value added products based on phospho-gypsum like plaster boards, panels, tiles, bricks, load bearing construction materials, dental plasters etc. at Ambalamedu on Build, Own and Operate basis.  The production facilities should comply with all the rules and regulations of Central / State Governments / Pollution Control Boards and other Statutory Agencies.  The parties may indicate the extent of land, license period expected, quantity  of Gypsum & utilities required.

 

The technology for manufacture of non-load bearing solid blocks using phospho-gypsum is available with FACT.

 

FACT will provide land on licence fee for 10 years or more depending on the project. Utilities to the extent possible and raw material Phospho-gypsum can be drawn on chargeable basis .

 

The capital investment for a 10 MT/Hr Calciner Plant will be about  Rs 20 Crore and  a  7,00,000  sq.  metre per annum capacity  Building Panel  Plant  will cost about Rs 22 crore.  Investment varies depending on the type of product and capacity of the project.

 

 

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5.     NEW BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES FOR JOINT VENTURE PROJECTS ON CAPROLACTAM /NYLON

 

 

The Petrochemical complex of FACT at Udyogamandal based on DSM technology for production of 50,000 TPA of Caprolactam and 2,25,000 MTPA of Ammonium Sulphate was commissioned in 1990. The complex also has of a 3 X 60 MTPD Furnace Oil/LSHS based Steam Generation Plant and 16 MW Captive Power Plant apart from the storage systems for raw materials, intermediates and fuel and utilities like nitrogen plant, cooling water system, DM water plant, Instrument Air system etc.  Caprolactam and downstream products like nylon and nylon-based products have a growing market. A proposal for capacity enhancement to produce 1,20,000 TPA of Caprolactam is under consideration. In this context expansion of the complex with back-end integration is considered.  The project envisages production of nylon and other downstream products based on Caprolactam. Utilising Molten Lactam directly in the production process would be very cost-effective and advantageous.

 

 

a)    Capacity Enhancement & Marketing of Caprolactam

 

 

FACT operates a 50,000 MTPA Caprolactam Plant in its Udyogamandal Complex. FACT intends to upgrade the plant with a proven, low-sulphate process technology such that the production capacity is enhanced to about 120,000 MTPA while restricting the co-generation of Ammonium Sulphate to the present level of 225,000 MTPA or still lower. The proposal also includes expansion of Caprolactam Marketing operations in the International Market. Prospective investors could carry out the upgradation of the Caprolactam Plant on a Joint Venture basis and also tie-up for marketing the product overseas.

 

 

b)     Downstream  Integration  of  Caprolactam

 

 

With the capacity enhancement of the existing Caprolactam Plant of FACT in its Udyogamandal Complex, there is scope for setting up downstream units based on Caprolactam. Prospective investors could set up downstream units based on Caprolactam, on a Build, Own, Operate and Transfer basis or as a Joint Venture Company.

 

FACT will provide developed land for setting up the units and available infrastructure facilities. Parties interested in BOOT participation can set up the downstream production facilities based on Caprolactam produced at the Petrochemical complex. Participation of FACT can include engineering and project management services during project implementation and also marketing of end products. The details of the scope and responsibility matrix for the project shall be concluded after detailed discussions.

 

Details of the existing facilities associated with  Caprolactam Plant

 

FACT-Petrochemical Division manufactures 50,000 TPA of Caprolactam (a monomer of Nylon-6) and 2,25,000 TPA Ammonium Sulphate (as 40 percent solution), Nitric acid (55 percent) and Soda Ash are byproducts of FACT-PD.  Ammonium Sulphate Liquour produced in FACT-PD is sent to FACT-UD where it is crystallized and sold as fertilizer.

 

The facilities at FACT-PD consist of the following:

 

A.    Main Plants:

 

1)                 Hydroxyl Amine Sulphate Plant (Hyam Plant) having a capacity of 114.2 MT/day of Hyam (100%)

2.                 Cyclohexanone Plant (Anone Plant) having a capacity of 134.7 MT/day of Anone.

3.                 Caprolactam Plant (Lactam Plant) having a capacity of 152 MT/day of Lactam.

 

 

B.    Utility Plants:

 

1.                 Steam Generation Plant having 3 boilers each with 110 ata steam generation capacity of 60 MTPA.  A 16 MW turbo generator is part of the plant.

 

 

C.    Offsite facilities:

 

i)                   Nitrogen plant of capacity 1000 NCMH

ii)                 Instrument air systems – 2 compressors of 1500 NCMH + 1 stand by

iii)               Main cooling tower

iv)               Tank farms

v)                 Ammonia handling section for receipt and distribution of ammonia

 

D.    Pollution Control Plants

 

i)                   Waste water treatment plant having aerobic and anerobic treatment facilities.

ii)                 Soda ash recovery plant

iii)               Purge incineration plant

 

Raw Materials:

 

The raw material requirements as to approximate quantity and source are tabulated below.

Sl.No

Raw material

Annual Requirement

Source

1

2

3

 

4

5

6

7

8

9

Sulphur Dioxide

Oleum

Hydrogen (100%)

 

Ammonia

Carbon Dioxide

Benzene

LSHS/Furnace Oil

LPG

Caustic Soda (100%)

70000 TPA

69000 TPA

  4600 TPA

 

78000 TPA

22000 TPA

50000 TPA

72000 TPA

    480 TPA

  6250 TPA

Internal/From FACT-UD

Internal/From FACT-UD

Internal/From FACT-UD

(Supplied as Syn.Gas)

Internal/From FACT-UD

Internal/From FACT-UD

External

External

External

External

 

 

Inter connectivity:

 

Since FACT-PD and FACT-UD are neighbouring units, the activities of both units are inter woven to the extent of sourcing of raw materials and sharing the utilities and this inter connectivity is highlighted below:

 

1)                 As may be seen from the table under raw materials FACT-UD is the supplier of some raw materials to FACT-PD.

 

2)                 FACT-PD supplies 40% Ammonium Sulphate solution which is processed in FACT-UD and sold as Ammonium Sulphate fertilizer.

 

3)                 The Ammonia Complex at FACT-UD also has a Steam Generation Plant having 2 boilers each with 110 ata steam generation capacity of 60 MTPH.  A 6 MW Turbogenerator is part of this plant.  Consequently steam network of Ammonia Complex of FACT-UD and steam net work of FACT-PD are interconnected.  FACT-PD can also supply steam to the Ammonium Sulphate Plant in FACT-UD and supply and receive steam from Sulphuric Acid Plant in FACT-UD.

4)                 Instrument air, Nitrogen utilities of FACT-PD and FACT-UD are inter connected and also can be operated independently.

 

5)                 Cooling Water supply from the Cooling Tower of respective Captive Power Plants of FACT-PD and FACT-UD can be serviced independently and also can be inter connected.

 

6)                 FACT-PD is the nodal agency for supplying Ammonia to other divisions.

 

7)                 The water works to the complex is part of FACT-UD.  Hence Industrial Water for FACT-PD is received from FACT-UD.

 

8)                 Apart from the in-house generation of power from the Captive Power Plants, FACT-UD and FACT-PD receive power from the Kerala State Electricity board. FACT-UD is the nodal agency for distributing power.

 

The quality of our product, Caprolactam is as listed below:

 

Solidification Point                               : 69oC  (Minimum)

 

Colour (in 50% solution)                      : 5o Hazen (Maximum)

 

Extinction (at 290nm in 50% solution)   : 0.05(Maximum)

 

Permanganate Number (in 3% solution) :10,000 Seconds(Minimum)

 

Alkalinity                                             : 0.05 milli equivalents/Kilogram (Maximum)

 

Acidity                                                          : 0.05 milli equivalents/Kilogram (max)

 

Volatile Base                                        : 0.50 milli equivalents/Kilogram (Max)

 

Moisture                                              : 0.10 %(Wt) (Maximum)

 

Cyclohexanone Oxime content               : 5.0 Milligram / Kilogram(Maximum)

 

Iron                                                    : 0.10 Milli gram / Kilogram (Maximum)

 

Matter insoluble in water                       : 5.0   Milligram / Kilogram (Max)

 

 

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