The company aims to increase production capacity, enhance plant reliability and maximize rate of production
Solvay S.A., the Belgian chemicals company headquartered in Brussels, has recently informed that it is planning to undertake several steps for optimizing the efficiency at its soda ash and sodium bicarbonate production facilities.
The company has supposedly determined plans to increased soda ash production capacity by 500,000 metric tons a year and the capacity for sodium bicarbonate by 100,000 metric tons a year over the next two years, intending to secure customer supplies in a competitive market which experiences a growing demand.
Reportedly, Solvay would make use of digital projects, data analytics and selective debottlenecking across its soda ash plants worldwide. It is looking to increase their production capacity, improving reliability of the plants as well as maximizing the production rates.
Solvay mentioned in a statement that it will also be investing in a new biomass boiler for its Rheinberg soda ash plant in Germany, aiming to cut down CO2 emissions at the site by over 30%, simultaneously enhancing its competitiveness. The technology of the new biomass boiler, which uses recycled wood chips as a fuel, would lower CO2 emissions by 190,000 metric tons a year.
The new boiler would be coming on stream in May 2021, the company said, for reducing fossil fuel consumption at the facility in Rheinberg by almost one fourth. A local company will supply waste wood need for the boiler to Solvay.
Solvay Soda Ash & Derivatives Global Business Unit’s President, Christophe Clemente said this key project demonstrates a vital step towards achieving Solvay’s new greenhouse gas target. This biomass project falls in line with the company’s previous energy transition initiatives it had launched at its soda ash facilities in Rosignano and Bernburg, he claimed. Clemente commented that the move shows how the company will shape its future and strengthen its leadership in soda ash globally.
