IANMA contributing to India’s Growth
Tarun Sinha, Chairperson, Indian Ammonium Nitrate Manufacturers Association (IANMA), 0
Indian Ammonium Nitrate Manufacturers Association (IANMA) is a national level industry association consisting of domestic Technical Ammonium Nitrate (TAN) manufacturers, viz. Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilizers Ltd (RCF-Central PSU), National Fertilizers Ltd (NFL-Central PSU), Gujarat Narmada Valley Fertilizers & Chemicals Ltd. (GNFC-Gujarat State PSU), and Mahadhan AgriTech Ltd (MAL – Private), a wholly owned subsidiary of Deepak Fertilizers and Petrochemicals Corporation Limited (DFPCL).
The objective of the association is to promote the domestic Ammonium Nitrate industry, provide advisory services in ensuring compliance to AN Rules 2012 and provide suggestions for improvement in safety and security aspects involving Ammonium Nitrate. The association, formed with the collective representation from the Public Sector (PSU) and the Private Sector contributes significantly to the growth of Indian economy through Energy security and Infrastructure development.
Energy Security, Infrastructure Development and Atmanirbhar Bharat
Ammonium Nitrate is a chemical and the principal ingredient of most commercial explosives required for mineral and rock blasting in the mines, stone quarries and infrastructure projects to produce Coal for Power generation, Iron-ore for Steel production, Limestone for Cement production, Stone aggregates for use in Construction works, and recovery of other critical minerals/metals such as Aluminum, Lead, Zinc, Gold, Silver, Copper, Barytes, Manganese, Uranium, Lithium, etc.
With the growth in Coal production and Infrastructure in India, the demand for Ammonium Nitrate is slated to grow at a CAGR of between 6-8%. Realizing this, and on the request from the concerned Ministries in Govt. of India, e.g. Ministry of Coal and Department for Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), the domestic Ammonium Nitrate Industry comprising of IANMA members, undertook capacity expansion during FY22-23 and FY23-24 through Capex injection, and has further committed to Greenfield investments of ~ Rs. 5,000 crores in the next 2-3 years which will double the existing capacities from approximately 11 Lakh Tons in FY22-23 to 21 Lakh Tons by FY27-28, which will make India Atmanirbhar in Ammonium Nitrate.
IANMA’s drive to make India Atmanirbhar in Ammonium Nitrate will assist in Infrastructure development in
India, besides supporting Govt. of India’s declared mission of making India self-sufficient in Coal production through import substitution, and Atmanirbharta in Coal will lead to energy security for the Country.
IANMA is mindful that fast-paced Infrastructure development and energy security are required for India to become a developed economy, and that Ammonium Nitrate remains a critical enabler to achieve this mission. Hence, the Association and its members are actively working towards increasing Ammonium Nitrate manufacturing capacity in the Country.
It is pertinent to note that while Ammonium Nitrate plays such an important role in India’s growth, it forms a small (insignificant) portion in the production cost of Coal, other minerals/metals, and infrastructure projects.
Besides encouraging the domestic industry to add capacity, Government’s support for ‘Ease of Doing Business’ has been commendable. Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade “DPIIT” under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry has stepped up engagement with IANMA to invite and evaluate feedback to enhance Ease of Doing Business by way of Digitizing licensing processes and simplification of Rules. A time bound disposal of all licensing applications will help the industry, its user base and eventually the Indian economy to grow faster. Policy reforms to deliver Innovation in the field of Ammonium Nitrate and Commercial Explosives will enhance India’s image on the World Map, besides benefiting the Mining and Infrastructure sectors of the economy. IANMA is working closely with DPIIT on such matters.
Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals (DCPC) under the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertlisers is also engaged with IANMA to discuss and address the support required by the domestic industry to make India Atma Nirbhar for its Ammonium Nitrate needs.
Improved Public Safety
Destruction caused by explosion of 2,750 MT of Ammonium Nitrate at Beirut port on August 4, 2020 was devastating to the economy and public at large. The sound of the explosion could be heard from a kilometer. Around 218 people died and over 6,500 were injured in the incident as per reports published. Thousands of apartments were destroyed, leaving many homeless.
All major ports of India have a large amount of critical infrastructure in and around the port, besides sprawling communities, which are at severe risk of any untoward explosion that could potentially happen with Ammonium Nitrate being imported at Indian ports.
IANMA’s drive towards domestic capacity enhancement to make India Atmanirbhar in Ammonium Nitrate is a step in the right direction from public safety point of view. This will enable India to stop import of Ammonium Nitrate at Indian ports, and the Mining and Infrastructure sectors can be serviced by Country’s own production.
IANMA is mindful that fast-paced Infrastructure development and energy security are required for India to become a developed economy, and that Ammonium Nitrate remains a critical enabler to achieve this mission. Hence, the Association and its members are actively working towards increasing Ammonium Nitrate manufacturing capacity in the Country.
It is pertinent to note that while Ammonium Nitrate plays such an important role in India’s growth, it forms a small (insignificant) portion in the production cost of Coal, other minerals/metals, and infrastructure projects.
With the growth in Coal production and Infrastructure in India, the demand for Ammonium Nitrate is slated to grow at a CAGR of between 6-8%. Realizing this, and on the request from the concerned Ministries in Govt.
Besides encouraging the domestic industry to add capacity, Government’s support for ‘Ease of Doing Business’ has been commendable. Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade “DPIIT” under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry has stepped up engagement with IANMA to invite and evaluate feedback to enhance Ease of Doing Business by way of Digitizing licensing processes and simplification of Rules. A time bound disposal of all licensing applications will help the industry, its user base and eventually the Indian economy to grow faster. Policy reforms to deliver Innovation in the field of Ammonium Nitrate and Commercial Explosives will enhance India’s image on the World Map, besides benefiting the Mining and Infrastructure sectors of the economy. IANMA is working closely with DPIIT on such matters.
Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals (DCPC) under the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertlisers is also engaged with IANMA to discuss and address the support required by the domestic industry to make India Atma Nirbhar for its Ammonium Nitrate needs.
Improved Public Safety
Destruction caused by explosion of 2,750 MT of Ammonium Nitrate at Beirut port on August 4, 2020 was devastating to the economy and public at large. The sound of the explosion could be heard from a kilometer. Around 218 people died and over 6,500 were injured in the incident as per reports published. Thousands of apartments were destroyed, leaving many homeless.
All major ports of India have a large amount of critical infrastructure in and around the port, besides sprawling communities, which are at severe risk of any untoward explosion that could potentially happen with Ammonium Nitrate being imported at Indian ports.
IANMA’s drive towards domestic capacity enhancement to make India Atmanirbhar in Ammonium Nitrate is a step in the right direction from public safety point of view. This will enable India to stop import of Ammonium Nitrate at Indian ports, and the Mining and Infrastructure sectors can be serviced by Country’s own production.