ICI Pakistan is to put PKR 915 million into its soda ash business at Khewra in Punjab to expand plant capacity by 50,000 tonnes per annum and improve operating efficiencies and productivity, the firm …
ICI Pakistan is to put PKR 915 million into its soda ash business at Khewra in Punjab to expand plant capacity by 50,000 tonnes per annum and improve operating efficiencies and productivity, the firm said 28 April 2005. The investment is inline with the its on-going commitment towards development of import substitution industries to serve local demand. 2004 marked the 60th Anniversary of ICI Pakistan“s soda ash plant at Khewra. Through a number of expansions over the years, capacity has been increased to 225,000 tonnes per annum. The most recent modernisation and expansion in 2002 included installation of a DCS Control System, a 5.2 MW co-generation installation and efficiency improvements in various units, at a total cost of PKR 525 million. In 2004, the company also increased its refined sodium bicarbonate output capacity to 20,000 tonnes/year. In the same year, there was an improvement in soda ash sales and margins. The record aggregate sales volume of 255,363 tonnes beat the previous highest annual figure of 240,570 tonnes in 2001. ICI Pakistan“s Soda Ash plant currently meets about 75% of the country“s requirements.
