Chennai based Archean group has begun the spadework to set up a fertilizer unit in Gujarat for a projected investment of Rs 1000 crore. The group's subsidiary Jhakhau Salt has been allotted about 60,000 acres of land in Greater Rann of Kutch for the project that will produce sulphate of potash (SOP) fertilizer from sea bitterns, according to sources. The company will start partial production with 3000 tonnes per annum next year and which will be ramped up in a phased manner to ultimately reach 3 lakh TPA.
“This would be around 10 per cent of the country’s need, making it the largest SOP unit in the country,” said industry sources close to the development. The new technology covered by granted international patents has been licensed by Bhavnagar based Central Salt and Marine Chemicals Research Institute (CSMCRI) to Archean group. The technology will produce SOP from sea bitterns integrated with recovery of refractory grade magnesia. Sea bittern and lime are the only raw material inputs.
The refractory grade magnesia is of over 95 per cent purity and has been evaluated at the Central Glass and Ceramics Research Institute, Kolkata. A senior company official said that they had acquired necessary land for the SOP plant.