PRIYABRAT
BISWAL
BHUBANESWAR,
OCTOBER 23, 2026
Vedanta Group
Chairman Anil Agarwal on Friday said the company plans to set up a 1.5 million
tonnes per annum (MTPA) fertiliser plant to address the global shortage of
sulphur, a key raw material for fertiliser production, and reduce India's
dependence on imports of critical agricultural inputs.
Emphasising the
project's importance for national food security, Agarwal said the proposed
facility would produce not only fertilisers but also significant quantities of
sulphur and rock phosphate, both of which India currently imports.
"The world is
facing a huge shortage of sulphur which is the most important input into making
fertilisers," Agarwal said in a post on X.
He said Indian
farmers, who have consistently ensured self-sufficiency in food production,
should not face any challenges in accessing fertilisers due to shortages of
essential raw materials.
"Our hardworking
farmers who have consistently delivered self-sufficiency in food should not
face any challenge on fertilisers," he said.
Agarwal called for a
coordinated effort to expedite the project, urging stakeholders to resolve
regulatory compliance and technical hurdles on a priority basis.
"Let all of us
be united in this mission. Whatever is in our way -- be it compliance or
technical, let us solve on a war footing," he said.
Describing the
proposed plant as a project driven primarily by national interest rather than
commercial considerations, Agarwal stressed the need to complete it to support
farmers and strengthen domestic production capabilities.
"This is a
project primarily in national interest, not commercial interest. We must
complete this plant to serve our farmers. And to help reduce unnecessary
dependence on imports," he said.
The proposed
investment comes against the backdrop of concerns over the availability of
sulphur, a critical input in the production of phosphatic fertilisers,
including those used extensively in Indian agriculture. Sulphur is also used to
produce sulphuric acid, which plays a key role in processing phosphate rock
into fertiliser-grade products.
India's dependence on
imported raw materials for fertiliser production exposes the sector to
fluctuations in global commodity prices, supply-chain disruptions and
geopolitical uncertainties. Expanding domestic production of key inputs could
help improve supply security and reduce vulnerability to external shocks.
Agarwal's announcement signals Vedanta's intention to expand its role in the fertiliser value chain, with the proposed 1.5 MTPA facility envisaged as part of a broader effort to strengthen domestic availability of essential agricultural inputs.
However, details regarding the project's location, investment outlay, implementation timeline and proposed production capacity for sulphur and rock phosphate were not disclosed in the post.
