thyssenkrupp nucera has commissioned a major chlor-alkali plant for Kutch Chemical Industries Limited at Padana in Gujarat, India. The facility has an annual production capacity of 220,000 metric tons of caustic soda and can produce up to 675 metric tons per day of 100% NaOH. According to the companies, it is one of the largest single-train chlor-alkali plants in India, and operation of its electrolyzers has started.
The plant is based on thyssenkrupp nucera’s BM Generation 6+ technology and uses five electrolyzers. Each unit can produce up to 135 metric tons per day of 100% NaOH, making it the highest-capacity single electrolyzer currently installed in India, the companies said. thyssenkrupp nucera provided engineering services, proprietary technology and equipment, as well as support during start-up and commissioning.
Kutch Chemical plans to use the caustic soda and chlorine produced at the site in its own manufacturing processes and to sell material in the Indian market. The new plant is expected to support the company’s production activities and strengthen its supply to domestic customers. The scope covers both captive use and merchant supply, reflecting the integrated nature of Kutch Chemical’s chemical operations in Gujarat.
Technology choice and operating scope
The selection of BM Generation 6+ places the expansion on a technology platform that thyssenkrupp nucera says is designed to improve the efficiency and reliability of chlor-alkali production. The five-electrolyzer configuration provides a high single-train capacity, with each electrolyzer rated at up to 135 metric tons per day of 100% NaOH. The stated design basis centers on the annual capacity, daily output and five-electrolyzer configuration.
Kiran Joseph, CEO of thyssenkrupp nucera India, said the project illustrates the importance of efficient and reliable chlor-alkali technology for customers that are expanding production capacity. He said Kutch Chemical’s choice of the latest BM Generation 6+ technology builds on a platform intended to further improve efficiency and reliability, and that the company was proud to contribute to the expansion project.
Long-standing cooperation
Kutch Chemical Industries is part of the Goyal Group of Industries and 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 company’s cooperation with thyssenkrupp nucera began in 2017, and thyssenkrupp nucera has supported the progressive expansion of the site since the initial chlor-alkali plant was implemented.
Jai Prakash Goyal, Whole-time Director at Kutch Chemical India, said thyssenkrupp nucera combines proven chlor-alkali technology with extensive project execution expertise and is a trusted partner for the company’s expansion plans. He said the successful commissioning is an important step for Kutch Chemical and supports its continued growth in the Indian market, adding that the company is pleased to build on the long-standing cooperation.
For thyssenkrupp nucera, the project adds a reference in India for its latest electrolyzer generation at a large single-train scale. For Kutch Chemical, the commissioned capacity links caustic soda and chlorine output to both internal chemical production and external sales, while the phased cooperation with the technology supplier continues under the companies’ existing relationship.