FACT-RCF Building Products, an equal joint venture between Kerala-based Fertilisers and Chemicals, Travancore, and Mumbai-based Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilisers Ltd, expects to start work on its gypsum product manufacturing unit by June-end. The foundation stone for the project was laid on May 3, at the hands of Union Minister for Fertilisers and Chemicals Ram Vilas Paswan.
Speaking to Projectmonitor, a senior official of FACT in Kochi said that the new unit would manufacture panels using gypsum and fibre. The unit will be located at Ambalamandalam near Kochi in Kerala, in the vicinity of one of FACT's production unit. The official also said that land was already in possession. "The plant will cost an estimated Rs 90 crore and is expected to be ready by June next year," he said.
Explaining the rationale, the official said that FACT was in possession of huge amounts of gypsum that is a byproduct during the manufacture of phosphoric acid from rock phosphate. The plant will provide high value-added products and would find application in the rapidly-growing construction segment, he noted. Australia-based Rapid Building System (RBS) would provide the technical knowhow. RBS has already entered into a joint venture with RCF for a similar plant near RCF's production unit at Trombay in Mumbai.