 "Nalco and Gujarat Alkalies JV starts work on caustic soda plant in Dahej")
National Aluminium Company Limited (Nalco), a Government of India enterprise, and Gujarat Alkalies and Chemicals Limited (GACL), a Government of Gujarat promoted company, have launched a joint venture to set up a Rs 1800-crore caustic soda plant. The foundation-stone for the proposed plant was laid at Dahej (Gujarat) and a new office for the JV was also inaugurated in Vadodara on December 8, 2015.
The agreement for the JV, GACL-Nalco Alkalies & Chemicals Private Limited, in which Nalco holds 40 percent stake, while GACL holds the rest, was signed in June this year. The JV plans to produce 2.7 lakh tonnes per annum (or 800 tonnes per day) of caustic soda and 100 MW coal based power plant in Dahej. The land transfer and ordering of plant equipment are in the final stages.
ALSO READ: Gujarat Alkalies & Nalco to set up caustic soda plant in Dahej
“As a backward integration plan of Nalco, the project is expected to be a highly profitable venture for us. Nalco will purchase at least 50,000 tonnes of caustic soda per year to start with, at market price,” commented Tapan Kumar Chand, CMD, Nalco.
The availability of caustic soda (also known as sodium hydroxide), which is used in the manufacturing process of aluminium, in India is very low and the major part of the domestic requirement is met at a high cost. The venture will aim to bring in import substitution of caustic soda in domestic market.
In addition to the JV with GACL, Nalco is also in the process of setting up a 0.5 million tonnes per annum alumina refinery in Kutch, Gujarat, in joint venture with Gujarat Mineral Development Corporation (GMDC).
The agreement for the JV, GACL-Nalco Alkalies & Chemicals Private Limited, in which Nalco holds 40 percent stake, while GACL holds the rest, was signed in June this year. The JV plans to produce 2.7 lakh tonnes per annum (or 800 tonnes per day) of caustic soda and 100 MW coal based power plant in Dahej. The land transfer and ordering of plant equipment are in the final stages.
ALSO READ: Gujarat Alkalies & Nalco to set up caustic soda plant in Dahej
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The availability of caustic soda (also known as sodium hydroxide), which is used in the manufacturing process of aluminium, in India is very low and the major part of the domestic requirement is met at a high cost. The venture will aim to bring in import substitution of caustic soda in domestic market.
In addition to the JV with GACL, Nalco is also in the process of setting up a 0.5 million tonnes per annum alumina refinery in Kutch, Gujarat, in joint venture with Gujarat Mineral Development Corporation (GMDC).