We aren’t only about fertilisers
Over two-third of the installed capacity of nitrogenous fertilisers in India is produced in plants, engineered and constructed by PDIL. Its chairman and managing director RG Rajan spoke to Gaurav Choudhury on a range of issues.
Projects and Development India Limited (PDIL) is a design engineering and consultancy organisation, engaged in promoting growth of fertiliser and allied chemical industries. Since its formation, PDIL has been involved in the design, engineering and construction of almost all the major grass-root fertiliser projects in India. Over two-third of the installed capacity of nitrogenous fertilisers in India is produced in plants, engineered and constructed by PDIL. Its chairman and managing director RG Rajan spoke to Gaurav Choudhury on a range of issues. Excerpts:

You have been engaged in the field of fertilisers. Tell us more about that.
PDIL has recently been engaged in providing engineering services in implementing the energy savings and capacity augmentation projects for IFFCO, Tata Chemicals, Chambal Fertilisers, Nagarjuna Fertilisers, Kribhco Shyam Fertilzers and NFL.
What have been your achievements in other areas?
PDIL has been successful in bagging large orders in diversified areas of oil and gas, cross-country pipelines, refineries, city gas distribution and infrastructure development. PDIL is providing to the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) project management consultancy services for its hydrogen plant at Barauni, engineering services for distribution network for its Panipat Refinery and project management consultancy services for installation of a sulphur recovery unit at its Mathura Refinery. We are providing consultancy services to Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) for construction of mini-refineries at Tatipaka and Ankaleshwar. In the infrastructure area we are executing a large accommodation project at various locations in the country for the ministry of defence.
Are there any other steps being taken by you to improve the growth and profitability of PDIL?
PDIL is trying to obtain medium-sized projects in the range of Rs 150 to Rs 200 crore. We are also in the process of making strategic alliances with reputed companies to obtain jobs abroad in the fertiliser sector.
What has been your corporate strategy on taking over as chairman and managing director of PDIL?
The priority was to improve the profitability of the company by strengthening our position in the core sector of fertilisers and also by diversifying into other areas such as oil and gas, refineries, pipelines and upcoming areas such as city gas distribution, etc.
Please give a brief outline of the finances of the company?
In 2007-08, PDIL has registered a turnover of Rs 54.72 crore compared to Rs 46.26 crore during the previous year registering a growth of 18.29 per cent. The performance of PDIL in its memorandum of understanding with the government has been rated ‘Excellent’ in two consecutive years. It has thus become eligible for Mini Ratna, Category-II status.