Kenya: Ministers Root for Chemical Industries Development
By Staff Writer
Magadi---Cabinet Ministers Prof. George Saitoti (Internal Security) and Dalmas Otieno (Public Service) have pledged to support strategic national policies aimed at facilitating the development of chemical industries in Kenya.
The development of chemical industries, the two ministers noted, will come in handy in attaining Kenya’s Vision 2030 blueprint as the demand for chemicalcommodities on the global markets continues to grow.
Speaking in Magadi Township during a function to inaugurate a Kshs 10Billion (US$100 million)PremiumSoda Ash Plant at the Tata Chemicals Magadi complex, Saitoti noted that foreign direct investments to Kenya from India had been enhanced as part of the Indo-Africa partnership programme.
On his part, Public Service Minister Dalmas Otieno challenged local industrial concerns in the sugar sector to consider forming partnership with chemical products producing companies. Such a partnership, he noted, could easily allow Kenya to start producing chemical polymers that are in high demand globally.
“We are now at a development phase where our industries must stop managing stagnation and forge growth partnerships,” Saitoti said.
During the function, Tata Chemicals Global Vice Chairman Ramabadran Gopalkrishan confirmed that capacity enhancement projects recently undertaken at Tata Chemicals Magadi will now propel Kenya up the global ranks as the country gears up to produce close to 2 per cent of the world’s natural soda ash.
The senior member of the Tata Group, who was flanked by Tata Chemicals Magadi ManagingDirector Mr Michael Odera, reiterated the global firm’s commitment to continue investing in Kenya while contributing to the national social and economic development.
From a technical perspective, Gopal explained that the new plant will be producing a purer product at 99 per cent purity which is a key ingredient in the manufacture of flat,float, sheet glass and related container glasses.
“The importance of this new facility is particularly vindicated by the fact that global demand for Soda Ash Is expected to reach 58 million metric tonnes by2015 against the current demand of 49 metric tonnes,” he explained. “With Tata Chemicals Magadi production capacity expected to hit the 1 million mark before the year 2015, it’s crystal clear that Kenya will be contributing close to two percent of the global production capacity. This is a major feat for Kenya.”
On his part, Tata Chemicals Magadi Managing Director Michael Odera disclosed that the capacity expansion programme will also raise the firm’s export capacity through the port of Mombasa. Currently and operating from a dedicated berth, Tata Chemicals Magadi is the single largest Kenyan exporter at the Kenya Ports Authority’s Kilindini harbour loading close to about 1800 tons of soda ash daily.
Tata Chemicals Magadi, Odera further explained operates on a 24-hour basis delivering its product to Mombasa from Magadi Township through rail. With afleet of 8 mainline locomotives, Magadi rail operates and maintains more than 146Kms of railway line between Magadi and Konza and has also petitioned thegovernment to fast track efforts to upgrade the Nairobi –Mombasa railway line to standard gauge status.
Soda Ash in today’s world is actually a very key determinant of development worldwide. Soda Ash applications vary from manufacture of glass to industrial and domestic chemicals for our everyday use. Production of natural soda ash is particularly significant with Kenya having to compete against natural producers such as the US, China, Botswana, Turkey, among others. Synthetic producers include India, China and some European countries.