The Fertilisers And Chemicals Travancore Ltd - Stock Valuation and Financial Performance

Fertilisers & Chemicals Travancore (FACT), India's first large scale fertilizer unit was set up in 1943. FACT Udyogamandal started production of ammonium sulphate with an installed capacity of 10,000 MT and nitrogen in 1947. It became a Kerala State Public Sector Enterprise on 15th August 1960 and on 21st November 1962, the government of India became a major shareholder in the company.

The 2nd stage of expansion of FACT was completed in 1962. The 3rd stage of expansion of FACT was completed in 1965 with setting up of a new ammonium sulphate plant.

The FACT Engineering and Design Organization (FEDO) was set up on 24th July 1965 to meet the emerging need for indigenous capabilities in vital areas of engineering, design and consultancy for establishing large and modern fertilizer plants.  FEDO has since then diversified into chemicals, petrochemicals, hydrometallurgy, pharmaceutical and other areas. FEDO offers services from project identification and evaluation stage to plant design, procurement, project management, site supervision and commissioning of new plants as well as revamping and modernization of old plants.

FACT Engineering Works (FEW) was established on 13th April 1966 as a unit to fabricate and install equipments for fertilizer plants. Over the years FEW developed capabilities in the fabrication of pressure vessels and heat exchangers. FEW also undertook laying of cross country piping and fabrication and installation of large penstocks of hydel projects.

The Cochin division of FACT, the 2nd production unit, was set up at Ambalamedu and the 1st phase was commissioned in 1973. The 2nd phase of FACT Cochin division was commissioned in 1976.

As a part of the diversification plan from the traditional field of fertilisers and chemicals, a 50,000 tonnes per annum Caprolactam Plant at Udyogamandal was commissioned in 1990.  FACT set up a 900 TPD ammonia plant at Udyogamandal at the cost of Rs 638 crore following an order from the Kerala High Court in February 1994 on a Public Interest Litigation, to decommission the existing imported ammonia storage and handling facility at Willington Island (Cochin Port). The ammonia plant was commissioned in 1998.

The company's main business is manufacture and marketing of fertilisers, caprolactam, engineering consultancy and fabrication of equipment.

Products:

FACT manufactures fertilizers, petrochemicals and chemicals.

• Finished products - ammonium sulphate, ammonium phosphate / complex fertilizers, caprolactam and bio fertilizers
• Exported Products – Caprolactam and ammonium sulphate
• Byproducts - nitric acid & soda ash, gypsum and carbon dioxide gas
• Intermediary Products - ammonia, synthesis gas, sulphuric acid, oleum, SO2 gas and phosphoric acid

Business Divisions:

• Udyogamandal Division
• Petrochemical Division
• Cochin Division
• FACT Engineering & Design Organization (FEDO) 

Milestones:

• 1943:   Incorporation
• 1947:   Production started
• 1960:   FACT came under Public Sector
• 1962:   Govt. of India becomes major share holder
• 1959-60: UD1st stage expansion completed
• 1962:   UD 2nd stage expansion completed
• 1964:   ICMA award for utilizing the byproduct gypsum
• 1966:   UD 3rd stage expansion completed
• 1971:   ICMA award for  technology transfer, UD 4th stage Ammonia plant
• 1973:   UD 4th stage 150 TPD Ammonia Phosphate
• 1965:   Establishes FACT Engineering & Designing Organization
• 1966:   Establishes FACT Engineering Works
• 1966:  CD Phase I license issued
• 1973:  CD I urea plant commissioned
• 1976:   CD II sulphuric acid plant commissioned
• 1976:   CD II phosphoric acid plant commissioned
• 1977:   CD II NPK trial run started
• 1979:   CD II NPK commercial production started
• 1984:   PD Caprolactam technical collaboration agreement
• 1984:   PD Zero date of ASCL project
• 1985:   PD Caprolactam licence issued
• 1989:   FEW shifted to Palluruthy, Kochi
• 1989:   Award for excellence in performance 1986/7 from the PM of India 
• 1990:   CD-12 MW captive power plant
• 1991:   PD Caprolactam commercial production started
• 1991:   UD-new ammonium sulphate commercial production started
• 1993:   Foundation stone - 900 TPD Ammonia plant
• 1998:   900 TPD ammonia plant commercial productions started

Recent Development:

The Fertilisers and Chemicals Travancore (FACT) is planning to resume the production of the chemical -- caprolactam -- after a gap of six months. The production was stopped when it became a loss-making affair with unprecedented fall in demand in the domestic as well as global market.

One of the advantages of producing caprolactam is that fertilizer ammonium sulphate is also produced as a byproduct of caprolactam.