Deeper into Agrochemicals

Deeper into Agrochemicals Hansavivek NATIONAL ORGANIC CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES (NOCIL) proposes to increase its participation in the agro- chemicals business and is seeking government permission' to undertake manufacture of Phosphamidon and DDVP. The project is estimated to cost Rs four crore. It has also submitted an application for the manufacture of sulphonates and sulphates of linear alkyl benzene/dodecyl benzene/alpha olefins/fatty alcohols and detergents based thereon at a cost of about Rs 6.4 crore. In addition, the company is considering a number of other possible areas for investment and marketing as a means of achieving growth in the future. After successfully overcoming teething troubles of the monocrotophos plant, experienced in 1983, the company has been able to achieve operation of the plant at design capacity despite repeated power interruptions. The company started commercial production at the cyperme- thrin plant in September 1984 and it has been operating smoothly. The petrochemicals plant showed a satisfactory performance during 1984, after four rather poor years. This could be possible as a result of the cumulative effect of steady operations with few breakdowns, careful monitoring of utilities and yields, a continuing search for improved efficiency and operating economies and the beneficial impact of investments on modernisation in earlier years. The company achieved a number of production records during the year, the most significant being the production of nearly 72,000 tonnes of ethylene as against the previous high mark of about 63,000 tonnes reached in 1978.