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FACT to work out SIDCO offer today

KOCHI: Fertilizers and Chemicals Travancore (FACT) is likely to take a decision on sourcing sulphur, the key raw material, through the State-government-owned Small Industries Development Corporation (SIDCO) on Monday. FACT sources said more specifications on the properties of sulphur offered by it was being sought and that they were expected by Monday.

The most attractive aspect of the offer was that while the international price of sulphur was nearly $600 a tonne, the government agency was offering it at $320.

However, FACT sources said the company had tendered for prilled sulphur, while what was on offer was crushed sulphur. The company management appeared to be reluctant to go in for crushed sulphur as it could cause problems in handling due to presence of lumps.

The Save FACT Action Council, a combine of trade unions at the fertilizer company, will press the company management to procure sulphur at the earliest.

A spokesman for the council said a protest march would be taken to the FACT corporate headquarters on Tuesday. It would be followed by a protest meeting.

There would be a protest march and meeting at the Ambalamughal division of FACT that day.

The council has welcomed the Rs. 200-crore interim relief sanctioned by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) last Thursday, but is yet to withdraw a 139-day-old relay hunger strike before the FACT corporate headquarters here, demanding, among others, reopening of plants that have been shut for more than four months now.

Leaders of the action council will meet top FACT management officials on Monday. This will be the first meeting between the management and trade unions after the interim relief was sanctioned.

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FACT to work out SIDCO offer today

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