Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers18-January, 2007 16:58 IST
NFL -- IN THE SERVICE OF NATION

National Fertilizers Limited (NFL), a Mini Ratna Company was incorporated on 23rd August, 1974 for implementation of two fertilizer plants, based on gasification technology of Feed Stock/ LSHS at Bathinda in Punjab and Panipat in Haryana having an installed capacity of 5.11 lakh tones of Urea each. In April’ 1978 the Nangal Group of Plants of Fertilizer Corporation of India (FCI) were transferred to NFL upon reorganization of NFL-FCI. The Govt. of India, in 1984, entrusted the Company to execute the country’s first inland gas based fertilizer project of 7.26 lakh tones Urea capacity in District Guna in Madhya Pradesh. This project (which commenced commercial production w.e.f. 1.7.1988), on its completion well within time and approved cost, received the First prize for “Excellence in Project Management” from the Ministry of Program Implementation. Expansion of Vijaipur Plant was taken up in 1993 for doubling its annual production capacity. The commercial production from this Plant was declared in March, 1997. The Department of Fertilizer has revised the annual installed capacity of Vijaipur Plants from 7.26 lakh tones of Urea to 8.64 lakh tones (each) with effect from  April 2000.

Growth

In order to sustain and enhance the Company’s growth, NFL successfully completed the revamping of Urea Plant at Nangal. Commercial production from this plant began in February 2001.  The annual installed capacity of Nangal Plant increased from 3.30 lakh tones of Urea to 4.78 lakh tones. With these steps the total annual installed capacity of Urea at NFL has reached to 32.31 lakh tones.                                                                                                               The company during the year 2005-06, produced 33.44 lakh tones of Urea, thereby achieving a capacity utilization of 103.5%. NFL is the second largest producer of Nitrogenous fertilizer in the country. KISAN Urea (46% N) is the flagship brand of the company. The Company’s Contribution towards Urea production in the country during 2005-06 is 16.6%. NFL has been making profits consistently.  The Company, during 2005-06, recorded the Urea sale of 33.63 lakh MT and recorded a pre-tax profit  of Rs. 179.30 crores.

Other Products

The Company, apart from producing Nitrogenous Fertilizers, also produces and markets Industrial Products, like Nitric Acid, Ammonium Nitrate, Sodium Nitrate, Sulphur, Methanol, Liquid Nitrogen, Liquid Oxygen, Argon Gas etc. The Company has a 100 tones per annum Bio-Fertilizer plant at Indore, where three strains of Bio-Fertilizer namely- PSB, Rhizobium & Azotobacter are produced.

Recognition

            NFL plants have all along remained the recipient of several prestigious Awards based on improvements in Productivity, Safety, Energy Conservation and Environment. During 2005-06, the company bagged a number of awards in the field of safety, environment and energy conservation. The Vijaipur Unit of the company has received “Prashansa Patra - 2005” from National Safety Council for outstanding safety management.  The Unit has also received “Silver Award” for outstanding achievement in Environment Management in Fertilizer Sector for the year 2004-05 from M/s Green Tech Foundation, Hyderabad. Vijaipur Unit has also been awarded “Certificate of Merit in the Fertilizers Sector” in appreciation of its efforts in Energy Conservation. NFL’s Bathinda Unit received the “Surakasha Puruskar” for developing and implementing very effective Occupational safety and Health Management Systems and Procedures from National Safety Council of India.

Environment Protection

The Company accords high priority to Quality, Environment and Safety at all its plants and offices.  All NFL plants have been certified for ISO-9001 (2000) & ISO-14001 for conforming to International Quality and Environmental Standard.

The Department of Public Enterprises in order to improve accountability and giving higher autonomy to Public Sector Undertakings, introduced the concept of MoU from early nineties. NFL signed first MoU with Department of Fertilizers for the year 1991-92. The company has been awarded Excellent rating for the fiscal year 2004-05 thus achieving Excellent ratings for five consecutive years for the second time.

Marketing

The Company’s Marketing Network comprises of Central Marketing Office at NOIDA, three Zonal Offices at Bhopal, Lucknow and Chandigarh and 40 Area Offices spread across the Country. The Company having developed Neem Coated Urea at its Panipat Unit is presently engaged in the production of this value added product from almost all its plants.  NFL is the first company in India to be permitted by the Government of India to produce and market Neem Coated Urea.

The Company has established single window shop at Solan. The Company is also producing and marketing bio-fertilizer and promoting the consumption of bio-fertilizer.

Agriculture Extension Services

NFL’s marketing division undertakes farmer’s education programmes and various extension activities for development and upliftment of farming community by organizing Demonstrations, Kisan Melas,  Crop Seminars, Farmers Study Tour, Afforestation Programmes, Rural Sports, Health  Awareness Campaigns, and Vetnairy Camps.  Farmers are provided free Soil Testing Service at their door step and are encouraged to use fertilizers based on soil test recommendations for maximum output.  Intensive agricultural / Social development activities are undertaken in adopted village all over NFL’s marketing territory in 8 states.

The company has also established single window shop at Panipat, where all agro inputs and Farm related services are made available. NFL has adopted information technology for efficient use of its various inputs/resources

Social Welfare

As a part of corporate social responsibility, the company has undertaken several projects on social hygiene, adult education and civic amenities to bring about transformation in the life-styles of the farming community. In furtherance of Company’s commitment for upliftment of rural areas, the company has institutionalized “National Fertilizers Ltd. Rural Scholarships” with the objective to spread technical education in educationally backward rural areas. The company has associated Yadavindra College of Engineering, Punjabi University for disbursement of these scholarships.

Industrial Relations

Company recognizes its 4776 (up to Nov. 2006) employees as its most valuable asset. NFL has always believed that human resource is one of the most important resources and continues to work for its development. It focuses on proper utilization of human resource to make the Company healthy.  Development of professional and technical skills remains a high activity spanning across all levels of employees, which is accomplished through meeting training needs at various levels through in-house and external specialized training programs. The aim is to achieve high level of performance and productivity to build up competencies with an endeavor to achieve the corporate goals.

NFL finds place among those companies, which have all along maintained cordial and harmonious industrial relations with its employees.

SV/AB/RTS/VN

SS-24/SF-24/18.01.2007


(Release ID :24161)