Lack of gas delays Bengal fertiliser plant.

The commissioning of a Rs. 5,500-crore fertiliser project in West Bengal has been delayed by a year due to lack of gas supply from Essar Oil's Raniganj coal bed methane gas block. Bankers say Essar Oil is still grappling with land acquisition issues for the gas project.

The fertiliser complex, being developed by Matix Group and scheduled to be commissioned last year, was to be developed near the gas block. Matix Fertiliser is promoted by the Kanodia family (promoters of infotech firm Datamatics), related to the Ruias of the Essar group.

BS