Chemplast Sanmar's ecofriendly initiative

Special Correspondent

Rs. 75 cr. investment envisaged

CHENNAI: Chemplast Sanmar Ltd. is embarking on a major exercise to make the production process at its caustic soda facility in Mettur eco-friendly.

The move will see it convert the production process of caustic soda from a mercury cell-based to a membrane cell-based one. The changeover is expected to happen latest by June this year. The process conversion initiative will involve an investment of Rs. 75 crore. The company will fund this from internal resources.

"The project will bring about significant reduction in energy consumption to the tune of 930 kW per tonne of caustic soda produced,'' according to a release from the company. The shift to new process will involve recurring maintenance costs, as the membranes have to be intermittently replaced in order to maintain the efficiency of the plant.

The company is confident that the Mettur facility would achieve zero discharge of effluents by the third quarter of 2007.