1.  Overview

1.1 The Fertilizers and Chemicals Travancore Limited (FACT) incorporated in the year 1943 was one of the first large scale fertilizer Companies in India. Located at Udyogamandal, Kerala, FACT started production in 1947. Initially in the private sector promoted by the Seshasayee Brothers, FACT became a PSU in the year 1960 and towards the end of 1962, Government of India became the major shareholder of FACT. FACT has completed 75 years of fertilizer production and service to nation.

1.2 From a modest beginning, FACT has grown and diversified into a multi-division/multifunction Organization with core activities in manufacture and marketing of Fertilizers and Petrochemicals, Design, Engineering & Consultancy and in Fabrication & Erection of Industrial Equipment and Engineering works.

1.3 Presently FACT is the lead fertilizer supplier of Kerala with its production units located at Kochi and supplying fertilisers to all the South Indian states. Company has now expanded marketing operation on pan India basis.  

1.4 FACT has an annual installed capacity of 6.33 lakh MT of complex fertilizers (NP 20:20:0:13), 2.25 lakh MT of Ammonium Sulphate and 0.5 lakh MT of Caprolactam. Company was shifted from Naphtha based operations to RLNG based operations in 2013-14.

1.5 The company could significantly improve its financial performance during the last few years. With the excellent production and marketing performance, FACT could register a profit of ₹353.28 Crore during the year 2021-22.

1.6 Company is also expanding its fertilizer production capacity by setting up and additional Complex NP plant of 1650 TPD capacity. The work is in progress and plant is expected to be productive by 2024-25.

2 Industrial / Business Operations   

2.1 Vision / Mission

FACT’s mission is to be a significant player in fertilizers, petrochemicals and other businesses such as engineering and technology services.

2.2 Financial Performance

2.3 Physical Performance

Production performance

Production performance during last two years are given below

*Caprolactam production was restarted in 2021 after a period of about nine years.

Marketing Performance

Sales during the last two years are given below.

1. 1. 4 Performance Highlights 2021-22

2.4.1 Production

1. As a step towards Atmanirbhar Bharat, in 2021-22 FACT restarted Caprolactam production after a period of about 9 years reducing imports to the country.
2. Achieved total fertilizer production of 9.63 Lakh MT
3. Company produced 20,835 MT of Caprolactam.  
4. Distributed Control System(DCS) has been implemented at fertilizer plant at Udyogamandal complex.
5. FACT imported Ammonia shipments at Q1 berth since South Coal Berth (SCB) reconstruction is in progress under SagarMala Scheme.
6. 1. 1. 2Marketing
7. 1The total fertilizer sales during the year crossed 1 million MT
8. Annual Caprolactam sales of 20,701 MT.
9. To meet fertilizer requirement during season, as instructed by DoF, FACT dispatched 23,864MT to Factamfos to Punjab

2.4.3 Awards

1. FACT Udyogamandal Complex won the Safety Award in the category of Very Large Factories by Department of Factories and Boilers, Government of Kerala and Suraksha Puraskar from National Safety Council, Kerala Chapter.
2. During National Fire service week celebrations, FACT Udyogamandal Division received Best ‘Fire-Safety innovation Award’ from NSC Kerala Chapter, for the Steam flooding System in Sulphuric Acid Plant.

3 Strategic issues

FACT tied up with IOCL for long term supply of RLNG for its gas requirements.  

To reduce import dependence, FACT has also tied up with BPCL for supply of 60% of its total sulphur requirement from its Kochi Refinery.  Company has also started sourcing sulphur from MRPL and is thereby further reducing import dependence.  

Utilizing the proceeds from the sale of land, company is carrying out CAPEX schemes for capacity enhancement and modernisation. Order has been placed for the major CAPEX projects, i.e. for new NP plant and ammonia storage tank, at Cochin Division. Works of all the major CAPEX schemes have started and are at various stages of execution. Commissioning of the new plant by 2024-25 will increase the fertilizer production capacity by 5.45Lakh MT.

4   Human Resource Management

4.1  Manpower as on 01.04.2022

4.2  Public Grievances Redressal and Welfare Measures

4.2.1  A Public Grievance Cell is functioning in the Company, as per norms laid down by Government of India.

4.2.2  A Grievance Management System exists in the Company.  Generally, the grievances are related to work, work place, shift arrangement, grant of increment, promotion, salary fixation, transfer, etc.  An aggrieved employee may submit a complaint / request for settling the grievance in the Division and if still aggrieved with the decision of the Division Head, it may be submitted before the appropriate Grievance Committee. A separate grievance committees examines and redresses of grievances of managerial and non-managerial employees.  The individual concerned is given an opportunity to present his grievance in person before the committee, if required.  The respective committee deliberates on the grievance and gives its recommendations to the management for appropriate action. In addition, there is an SC/ST Grievance Cell to look into complaints received from SC/ST employees.

4.3  Welfare of Minorities.

The Company has provided the following facilities for the Welfare of Minority Communities.

The Company has provided the following facilities for the Welfare of Minority Communities.
a)      Land for Mosque near FACT Junction, Udyogamandal-
b)      Land for 4 Christian communites for using as Cemetery in Udyogamandal-7 cents each
c)      Land for Muslim community for using as burial ground in Udyogamandal-7 cent
d)      Land to St:Joseph’s  Church near JNM Hospital, Udyogamandal.
e)      Land for CSI Church, Ambalamedu (25.51 cents)
f)       Land for Catholic Church, Ambalamedu (44.73 cents)
g)      Land for Marthoma Church, Ambalamedu  (45.01 cents)
h)      Land for Jacobite Syrian Church, Ambalamedu  (45.01 Cents)- no agreement in place

4.4  Welfare, Development and Empowerment of Women

4.4.1 Equal opportunity has been provided to women in recruitment to posts both in technical and administrative disciplines with exception for jobs involving round the clock shift-work. Equal remuneration is paid to employees of both genders doing the same type of work.  There is no discrimination on grounds of gender. Women centric training programmes are also organised.  All these have enabled some of our women officers to excel in their respective field of activities leading to their being chosen for the coveted Merit Award given for outstanding performance and achievements.

4.4.2 Women executives occupy key positions in the Management cadre as General Managers, Dy. General Managers & Asst. General Managers in various Engineering disciplines like Chemical, Instrumentation, Electrical, Civil, Computer etc. and administrative disciplines like Finance, Human Resources, Materials, Marketing etc.

4.4.3 Women employees are entitled for maternity leave of 26 weeks and medical benefits associated with pregnancy, delivery, miscarriage etc.  Under the provisions of the Factories Act, the working hours of women employees covered under the Act is restricted between 6 a.m. and 7 p.m.  Nursing mothers are given two intervals of 15 minutes each as feeding time, or alternatively as a working arrangement of 30 minutes at a stretch, for feeding their infants, up to a maximum of fifteen months after confinement.

4.4.4 As per GOI Orders, women employees undergoing family planning operation are given special leave up to 2 weeks.

4.4.5 Non-statutory Welfare measures implemented for Women employees:  There is an association of women employees, FACT Women' Welfare Association, whose activities are welfare oriented.  Buildings are allotted to FACT Women’s Welfare Organisation at concessional rate for running Women’s hostel/Creche.

4.4.6 Security at Work.

A Complaints Committee is functioning to look into complaints of sexual harassment to women employees at work place under the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition & Redressal) Act, 2013.  Not less than half of the members are women including an external member who is a lady Professor of a reputed Social Work College.

4.5 Welfare of SCs & STs 

4.5.1 Employment / Fresh recruitment

The Company has taken all measures for maintaining reservation of SCs / STs in employment in accordance with the Presidential directives. The employment of Reserved categories as on 31.3.2022 is given below :

1656

220

50

During the year 2021-22, 18 SC & 5 ST candidates have been appointed against a total of 109 appointments.

4.5.2 Training

In service training to company employees is arranged through the Training Department. Maximum representation is ensured for SC / ST employees to attend in house trainings. For engagement of Apprentices under the Apprentices Act, representation as per rules is provided. 

4.5.3 SC / ST Grievance Cell

An SC / ST Grievance Cell is functioning at Corporate Level comprising the Chairman, who is also the Chief Liaison Officer for matters pertaining to reservation of SC / ST and their grievances in the company, Liaison Officers of the various divisions and two officers each belonging to SC and ST. The grievances received are examined in detail by the Cell and appropriately redressed and if found necessary they are called by the cell to present their cases in person.  The employee concerned is informed of the decision / action taken on the grievances by the Grievance Cell.   Further, there are associations representing SC / ST employees and these associations also take up individual grievances of SC / ST employees with the management for direct redressal.

4.5.4 Reservation of Dealership:

Status as on 31-03 2022

FACT is having 5935 dealers for distribution of fertilizers.  FACT is encouraging SC/ST category dealers to apply for the dealership in accordance with policy of Department of Fertilizers, Government of India.

Total number of dealers and the representation of SC/ST in dealership as on 31.03.2022 is given below.

Steps taken for increase of SC/ST dealers:   There is no restriction on the appointment of dealers under SC/ST category unlike general category applications.  SC/ST dealers are exempted from payment of Security Deposit and there is no prerequisite of furnishing Fixed Deposits as in general category dealers.

5. Corporate Social Responsibility

 Company continued to give priority to various Social Responsibility measures. The theme for 2021-22 was ‘Health & Nutrition’ with special focus on COVID related measures.   Company’s  CSR activities inter alia  focussed on supply of drinking water to nearby areas of Udyogamandal, farmer education programs such as Soil testing services and marketing of organic manures, providing insecticidal nets to farmers etc. Distribution of school bags, sports & study kits to under privileged students etc were  also made; also ambulance van was donated and  wheel chairs were  given to local physically challenged personnel. 

In view of COVID-19 pandemic, Medical Oxygen Plants were installed in Basti, Uttar Pradesh and two Community Health Centres in Kannur and Ernakulam Districts in Kerala. Tablet computers were distributed to under privileged school children for online education during pandemic time. Company supplied provisions to community kitchen run by local authorities, facilities like beds and washing machine were donated for the COVID first line treatment centers The Company has also made contribution to the PM CARES fund. Company medical centre at Udyogamandal is open to local public.