Government to open chemical fertilizer plant

A meeting of the National Development Action Committee (NDAC) chaired by Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has directed the Ministry of Agricultural Development and the Investment Board of Nepal to finalize modalities to establish a fertilizer plant with an investment of US$ 665 million. The factory will have the capacity of producing 700,000 tons of chemical fertilizer. Currently Nepal imports 400,000 tons annually. On the development modality, IBN has recommended instituting a company promoted by different government agencies like MoAD, IBN, Agricultural Inputs Company and Nepal Oil Corporation among others, or select bidders on a competitive basis along with declared VGF. The feasibility report states it will take three years to build the plant. The project site will be Bardaghat of Nawalparasi if it runs on natural gas processes.