Ratio Magazine :: The Inside Track to East Africa’s Economies - Kenya: Press Releases: Tata Chemicals Open New USD100m Ash Plant in Kenya

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Kenya: Press Releases: Tata Chemicals Open New USD100m Ash Plant in Kenya

Thursday, 10 November 2011

Nairobi, 10 November 2011 --- Strategic efforts by global chemicals firm Tata Chemicals to enhance the production capacity of their local subsidiary, Tata Chemicals Magadi, are set to place Kenya high on the global soda ash production map.

As the company celebrates the formal opening of a new USD100m premium ash plant today, Kenya is now all set to join the top league with Tata Chemicals Magadi gearing up to boost its production capacity to 1m metric tonnes in the next three years.

Speaking in Nairobi, Tata Chemicals Director Prasad Menon confirmed that capacity enhancement projects recently undertaken at Tata Chemicals Magadi will now propel Kenya to global prominence as the country gears up to produce close to 2% of the world’s natural soda ash.

The senior member of the Tata Group, who was flanked by Tata Chemicals Magadi Managing Director Mr Michael Odera, reiterated the global firm’s commitment to continue investing in Kenya while contributing to the national social and economic development.

From a technical perspective, Menon explained that the new plant will now be producing a superior product at 99% purity which is a key ingredient in the manufacture of flat, float, sheet glass and related container glasses.

“The importance of this new facility is particularly vindicated by the fact that global demand for Soda Ash Is expected to reach 58m metric tonnes by2015 against the current demand of 49m metric tonnes,” Menon explained. “With Tata Chemicals Magadi production capacity expected to hit the 1m mark before the year 2015, it’s crystal clear that Kenya will be contributing close to two percent of the global production capacity. This is a major feat for Kenya.”

On his part, Tata Chemicals Magadi Managing Director Michael Odera disclosed that the capacity expansion programme will also raise the firm’s export capacity through the port of Mombasa. Currently and operating from a dedicated berth, Tata Chemicals Magadi is the single largest Kenyan exporter at the Kenya Ports Authority’s Kilindini harbour loading close to about 1800 tons of soda ash daily.

Tata Chemicals Magadi, Odera further explained, operates on a 24-hour basis delivering its product to Mombasa from Magadi Township through rail. With a fleet of 8 mainline locomotives, Magadi rail operates and maintains more than 146Kms of railway line between Magadi and Konza and has also petitioned the government to fast track efforts to upgrade the Nairobi –Mombasa railway line to standard gauge status.

Soda Ash in today’s world is actually a key determinant of development worldwide. Soda ash applications vary from manufacture of glass to industrial and domestic chemicals for our everyday use. Production of natural soda ash is particularly significant with Kenya having to compete against natural producers such as the US, China, Botswana, Turkey, among others. Synthetic producers include India, China and some European countries.

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