History of Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilizers Ltd.
1978
- Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilizers Ltd; a Government Company, registered under the companies Act, 1956, has been formed in 1978 after reorganisation of erstwhile Fertilizer Corporation of India & National Fertilizers Ltd.
- The Comp. is engaged in Production and Marketing of nitrogenous & complex fertilizers and industrial chemicals with its manufacturing units at Trombay and Thal and marketing offices in most of States of India.
1990
- The Comp. had taken a KD 30 million loan in 1981 to meet the foreign exchange component of Thal Project. - The Comp. has bagged an Award for social forestry of Bombay Chamber of Commerce & Industry for year 1990-91.
- The plantlets of sugarcane were regenerated via callus derived from young inflorescence, followed by young leaf explants. Tissue culture on multivitamin plant, Chakurmani, has been initiated & screening number of culture media & explants is in progress.
- A 5000 MTPA plant has been set up at Thal. Mechanical erection of the plant is completed & the plant is being commissioned.
- RCF is proposing to set up a 2.5 lakh MTPA phosphoric acid plant in a rock producing country like Togo or Jordan .
- An agreement has been entered into in January 1991 with M/s Mitsubishi Corporation of Japan to provide technical personnel for operational & supervisory services in connection with pre-commissioning, commisioning & test run of Jamuna Fertilizer Project in Bangladesh.
- The company Education-cum-Training scheme for SC/ST students has entered into 14th successful year & so far 100 SC/ST students have received its benefits . The aim behind the scheme is to help and motivate the students from SC/ST communities to take up higher studies for their better future.
- The prestigious INDIRA GANDHI MEMORIAL NATIONAL AWARD instituted by the Andhra Pradesh Public Sector Employees Federations was bagged by Shri J Kohareswaran, Deputy Finance Manager [Thals] for 'BEST MANAGER' and Shri D V Khapde, General Secretary of RCF Employee Union, for 'EXCELLENT TRADE UNION LEADER' . Shri Shivaji Shinde of Trombay-V Bagging Plant bagged 'GUNAWANT KAMGAR AWARD' of Government of Maharashtra for year 1991.
- During the year 1990-91 RCF has been adjudged as the 'BEST EMPLOYER' by The National Society for Equal Opportunity for Handicapped for having employed high number of physically handicapped persons particularly in category of hearing handicapped . Dr. R N Trivedi, Chief Research Scientist, has been adjudged 'BEST HANDICAPED EMPLOYEE' for the year.
1992
- The Comp. faced shutdown of two of its three streams of Urea Plant for a fairly long period.
- Under the Technical Assistance Agreement with M/s. Haldor Topsoe, the work for Auto Optimisation of four critical parameters in Ammonia Plants by installation of Advanced Control System has been completed in March 1992 which will result into energy saving of 0.1 to 0.15 MKcal/M.T. of Ammonia.
- A Comprehensive Purge Gas Recovery Unit is being set up with energy conservation as one of its important objective.
- The Comp. has entered into Technical Assistance Agreement with M/s. Haldor Topsoe, Denmark for technical upgradation of Ammonia Plants at Thal.
- An Adivasi Development Centre, which is also used as Balwadi & for Adult Education & Medical Aid, has also been set up in Thane District under the programme.
- The Company R and D Centre has developed a new Complex Fertilizer viz. Ammonium Polyphosphate [APPs] [12:56:0s] which is under extensive field test with cereals, oil seeds & vegetable crops in the Agricultural Research Farm at Thal, several Agricultural Universities and ICAR Projects.
1993
- The Comp. proposes to set up a Purge Gas Recovery unit at Thal for recovery of Hydrogen.
- The Comp. has undertaken a project for agricultural development in collaboration with European Economic Community [EECs].
- The Comp. had launched 'Chembur Green Project' to promote green environment around its Trombay complex.
- The Comp. has a well established Research & Development Division which is engaged in sustained applied research in the field of fertilizers, chemicals agriculture & biotechnology.
- The Pilot Plant of 1.0 MT/Hr. capacity has been installed commissioned & operated successfully during the year to produce NP 27:9:0 & 19:19:0 grades of Urea Nitric Phosphate which is a new fertilizer material containing more than 90% water soluble P2O5.
- Dimethyl Formamide section of Plant at Thal has been commissioned. Dymethyl Acetamide [DMACs] Plant at Thal DMAC Plant with the capacity of 3000 MT per annum is being erected at Thal & is likely to be commissioned by November.
- M/s Linde AG, Germany has been awarded the contract to set up and commission Purge Gas Recovery Unit at Trombay to reduce the over all energy consumption, increase the Ammonia production & recover Ammonia, Hydrogen, Methane & Argon from the Purge Gases.
1994
- The production of Suphala & ANP was affected due to marketing constraints & the production of Urea had suffered due to inadequate availability of gas from Gas Authority of India.
- The Comp. successfully commissioned a Dimethyl Acetamide Plant at Thal.
- The Comp. proposes to introduce the Advance control system in Trombay V Ammonia plant to control critical parameters like Hydrogen-Nitrogen ratio, steam carbon ratio, synthesis loop pressure/purge flow, reformer firing & synthesis gas compressor suction pressure.
- The Comp. has bagged the first Rajiv Gandhi Environment Award for Clean Technology & the National Award for Prevention of Pollution from Ministry of Environment & forests, government of India.
- Shri Abraham Thomas was appointed as Chairman & Managing Director of the Comp. with effect from 20th October.
- The R and D Division of Comp. has set up a production facility for Isotope of Nitrogen [N-15] the only one in India] of 800 gms/annum capacity at a cost of Rs.35.00 lakhs.
- Two of employees viz. Mrs. Hemlata Lad & Shri Jaypal Patil from Trombay & Thal Unit respectively bagged GUNVANT KAMGAR PURASKAR of the government of Maharashtra for year 1993.
- Mr. B.M. Rao, Sr. Technician & Mr. K.S. Mehta, Technician Gr. II [Inst.] of PAP Plant were awarded the Vishwakarma award by the government of India.
1995
- The Comp. alongwith M/s. United Gulf Group of Saudi Arabia have envisaged to set up a 'Machining And Equipment Accessories Manufacturing & Industrial Service Centre', to cater to the Petrochemical & Fertilizer Industries in & around Al-Jubail, Saudi Arabia.
- The Comp. alongwith KRIBHCO & Oman Oil Comp. has been assigned to set up a Joint Venture Ammonia & Urea complex in the Sultanate of Oman.
- 10000 MTPA Formic Acid plant & 1200 NM3/hr capacity CO plants are being set up at Thal.
- The Comp. has successfully commissioned the Purge Gas Recovery Unit.
- The Comp. has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth, a premier Agricultural Research Organisation for conducting extensive joint research & extension services in the field of crop performance, yields, increasing efficiency of fertilizers etc.
- The Comp. has a well equipped Farmers' Training Institute which is committed to impart the latest knowhow in agricultural & farm technology to the farmers.
- Four employees of Comp. viz. Shri Vishwas N. Pathak, Sr. Technician [Ele.], ANP, Shri Vasudev N. Dhekane, Sr.Operator CNA Plant, Shri Dilip L. Jambhale, Sr. Operator Ammonia V & Shri Tukaram S. Divekar, Sr. Operator NSG plant bagged GUNVANT KAMGAR PURASKAR of the Government of Maharashtra for year 1994.
- Shri Ramesh Pillay, Sportsman [Hockey] was conferred Shiv Chatrapati Award by Government of Maharashtra for year 1994-95.
- Shri Rajendra Purushottam Paradkar, Shift Manger Tr. V Ammonia Plant has bagged the Fifth Indira Gandhi Memorial National Award for year 1994 as EXCELLENT MANAGER.
- Shri K.W. Deshpande, Chief Engineer, Management Services was conferred the HK Firodia Award by Indian Institute of Industrial Engineering for year 1994.
1996
- The performance of Trombay Unit was slightly affected due to reasons such as failures in MSEB Power Grid, Shortage of Water Supply from BMC, Gas Supply restrictions from ONGC etc.
- The President of India has appointed Shri S.Balan as full time Director [Finance] w.e.f. 8.4.1996. Shri Pradeep Singh has been appointed as Chairman & Managing Director w.e.f. 18.7.96.
1997
- The Comp. has signed an agreement with National Securities Depository limited on 4.2.1996 for trading the Company shares in Electronic form.
- The `Joint Venture Agreement' with the Oman Oil Comp. & KRIBHCO, for setting up a Fertilizer Complex in Oman was signed during the visit of His Highness The Sultan of Oman in April.
- The Purge Gas recovery unit was commissioned in December, 1996.
- A sewage treatment plant is also being set up at Trombay to process the untreated ewage water received from Municipal Corporation and recover fresh water.
- Shri Vinay Bansal, Director of Comp. resigned from the office w.e.f. 8.7.1997 consequent to his transfer as Secretary [Forestss], Government of Maharashtra.
- The President of India also appointed Shri D.K. Varma as Chairman and Managing Director w.e.f. 4th October 1996 & Shri H.C.P. Sinha as whole time Director [Technicals] w.e.f. 26th February.
1998
- The Comp. is one of first Companies to sign Agreement with NSDL for trading its scrips in Electronic form.
1999
- The Company, has signed an agreement with Central Depository Services [India] Ltd.[CDSL] on 24.2.99 for trading the Company shares in electronic form the for benefit of Shareholders of Company.
- Liquid micronutrients were launched during the year under the brandname MICROLA & over 10,000 litres were sold in the state of Maharashtra.
- The Comp. has signed an MOU with UCB S.A. Chemicals, Belgium, an internationally reputed Chemicals manufacturing & marketing company having units all over the world, to produce 20,000 MTPA, of Methylamines & its derivatives at Thal.
- The Comp. has successfully commissioned 10,000 MT Ammonia storage facility. The Comp. also commissioned the 150 MTPA Bio-fertilizer Plant for producing BIOLA & MICROLA at Trombay & the Formic Acid Plant with an installed capacity of 10,000 MTPA at Thal.
2000
- The Comp. proposes to set up a single super phosphate manufacturing plant with an annual capacity of 2.50 lakh tonne in Madhya Pradesh.
- Rashtriya Chemicals & Fertilisers Limited, Mumbai & Maharashtra Scooters Ltd., Satara, were presented the Dr. R J Rathi Award for Environment Pollution Control.
2001
-Rashtriya Cgemicals & Fertilisers Limited, finalised its wage agreement with Union, association.
-RCF shuts down two of its plants at trombay because of natural gas shortages.
-RCF signed a memorandum of Association with the government under which total area production is targeted at 16.91 lakh metric tonne.
-Rashtriya Chemicals & Fertilisers Ltd ha turned to British Gas for Liquefied Natural Gas [LNGs] to meet its feedstock requirements.
-RCF submitted Expression of Interest to acquire the fertilizer plants of SAIL & Pradeep Phosphate.
2002
- Government appointed Mr.H.P.Pota as Director of Rashtriya Chem Board
-Mr.S.Balan has been appointed as the Chairman & MD of Rashtriya Chemicals
-Company informed the exchange about the appointment of additional directors Lt.Gen Mr.M.S Bhullar, Mr. Sanjay Kaushik, Dr.H.Shanthamma, Prof.Ashok Mishra and Mr.K.P.Fabian.
2003
-Governement invited bids to select advisors for disinvestment of 51% stake in RCF.
-RCF posted a net profit of Rs. 31.8million for quarter as against the net loss the previous year.
-RCF has informed that Shri. H.S.Karangale has been appointed as Director [Technicals] on the Board of Rashtriya Chemicals & Fertilizers Limited.
2005
-RCF signs MOU with Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd
2007
-Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilizers Ltd [RCFs] has appointed Dr. Ashok Misra, Director [IITs], Mumbai, Shri. Anil Agrawal, Chartered Accountant & Shri. i C Srivastava, IAS [Retireds] as Non-official Directors on the Board of Comp. for a period of three years.
