thyssenkrupp nucera (Dortmund, Germany) has commissioned a chlor-alkali plant for Kutch Chemical Industries Limited at Padana, Gujarat, India, with an annual production capacity of 220,000 metric tons of caustic soda (NaOH). Rated at up to 675 metric tons per day of 100 percent NaOH, the facility is described by the companies as one of the largest single-train chlor-alkali plants in India.
The project uses thyssenkrupp nucera's BM Generation 6+ technology. The plant deploys five electrolyzers, each able to produce up to 135 metric tons per day of 100 percent NaOH — a unit capacity the supplier says is the highest of any single electrolyzer currently installed in India. Operation of the electrolyzers has started successfully, according to the announcement.
Under the contract, thyssenkrupp nucera supplied engineering services, proprietary technology and equipment, and supported the customer during start-up and commissioning. The new capacity is intended to support Kutch Chemical's own production activities and to strengthen its supply to the domestic market; the caustic soda and chlorine produced at the site will be used in the company's own processes and also sold in India.
Customer and project background
Kutch Chemical Industries, a company of the Goyal Group of Industries, is an Indian manufacturer and exporter of specialty and bulk chemicals. It operates an integrated chemical complex in Gujarat with activities in chlorination, nitration and dye intermediate products. The cooperation between the two companies began in 2017, and since the initial chlor-alkali plant was implemented thyssenkrupp nucera has supported the progressive expansion of the facility in line with the customer's growth plans.
What the companies say
Kiran Joseph, CEO of thyssenkrupp nucera India, said the project underlines the importance of efficient and reliable chlor-alkali technology for customers that are expanding production capacity. By selecting the BM Generation 6+ platform, he said, Kutch Chemical is building on technology designed to further improve the efficiency and reliability of chlor-alkali production, and the supplier is proud to contribute to the realization of the expansion project.
Jai Prakash Goyal, whole-time director at Kutch Chemical India, said thyssenkrupp nucera combines proven chlor-alkali technology with extensive project execution expertise, which he said makes the company a trusted partner for its expansion plans. He described the successful commissioning as an important step for Kutch Chemical that supports its continued growth in the Indian market, adding that the company is pleased to build on the longstanding cooperation.
The companies did not disclose the investment value, the construction schedule or the split between captive consumption and merchant sales of caustic soda and chlorine.