The Talcher Fertilizers plant is back on track, with over 60% of the work completed, making it possible for its early commissioning. This project is set to benefit thousands of farmers in Odisha and other states.

The Union government has taken steps to revive the Talcher unit of M/s FCIL, located in Angul district. A joint venture called Talcher Fertilizers Ltd. (TFL) has been formed to develop a coal gasification-based Ammonia Urea Plant with a capacity of 12.7 LMTPA, making it the first of its kind in India.

According to official sources, TFL awarded the coal gasification and ammonia urea packages to Wuhuan Engineering Company Ltd. (WECL) from China in September 2019. However, the project faced delays starting in December 2019 due to the global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, which began in Wuhan, severely affecting the project's progress until May 2020.

Subsequent waves of the pandemic in India led to localized lockdowns, further hindering the project’s timeline. Additionally, procurement delays, construction issues, and setbacks in equipment installation contributed to the slow progress.

As of October 31, 2024, the overall project completion stands at 63.75%. The progress for the Outside Battery Limit (OSBL) Packages, including critical components such as pipe racks, plant lighting, renovation of non-plant buildings, and water treatment plants, is at 73.95% and is nearing completion.