Coromandel International Ltd has attributed the ammonia gas leak at its Ennore fertilizer factory in Chennai to an unforeseen accident beyond its control. The company emphasized the significant impact on the agricultural sector if fertilizer operations remain halted. Since December 26, 2023, the factory has been closed following the ammonia gas leakage incident, which resulted in around fifty individuals requiring hospitalization.
The Member of Parliament representing North Chennai, where the plant is situated, has advocated for the permanent closure of the plant. However, Coromandel asserted that immediate action was taken following the accident, averting more serious consequences. The company reiterated that its Ennore facility, operational since 1996, adheres to the highest safety standards and protocols, as stated in an affidavit filed before the Green Tribunal.
The company highlighted that third-party audit reports conducted in December 2023 found no ammonia emissions within the Ennore plant premises. The affidavit was in response to a suo moto case initiated by the Chennai Bench of the National Green Tribunal in light of the ammonia gas leak incident, which reportedly caused health issues in the vicinity.
The Tamil Nadu government has instructed the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) to enforce the recommendations outlined in the technical committee report concerning the ammonia gas leak in Ennore. In its affidavit, the company underscored various safety measures, including the construction of a steel corridor structure recommended by a former professor of IIT Madras.
This structure aims to prevent pipeline damage caused by the movement of heavy granite boulders along the shore. The ammonium phosphate potash sulphate produced at the Ennore plant serves the agricultural needs across multiple states. As reported by businessline, the plant is a major manufacturer of paramfos, a unique product widely used by farmers nationwide for crops such as paddy, ragi, sugarcane, groundnut, and maize.
