Gujarat Alkalies and Chemicals Limited (GACL), the single largest producer of Caustic Soda in India, has planned to invest Rs 3500 crores for expansion and new projects on caustic soda.
The expansion projects involve augmenting the existing capacities of caustic soda, chloromethane, and phosphoric acid, besides caustic potash at its Dahej plant. GACL is also looking at setting up a 120 Megawatts coal-based power project at Dahej as part of the expansion plan.
The caustic soda capacity is being expanded by 1,200 tonne per day (TPD), that of chloromethane by 600 TPD, phosphoric acid by 300 TPD and the caustic potash to 120 TPD, according to a GACL statement.
The company is also exploring the possibility of setting up a new caustic soda plant at Bhavnagar, Gujarat with a capacity of 600 TPD and another new plant in Eastern India with a capacity of 300 TPD.
Alternatively, the company may also acquire an existing caustic soda manufacturing plant with a similar capacity in East India.
GACL has two units located at Vadodara and Dahej, both in Gujarat. It has integrated manufacturing facilities for caustic soda.
In textile industry, caustic soda is used to process cotton and in the dyeing process of synthetic fibers such as nylon and polyester.
