GACL gets Centre’s approval for its CDM projects

The city-based Gujarat Alkalies and Chemicals Limited (GACL) has got the Centre’s approval for its Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) projects, a top company official has said.

“Our proactive approach in raising environmental awareness, both in our production sites as well as in the society at large, GACL has emerged as a leader in environmental initiatives,” the company’s Managing Director, Guruprasad Mohapatra told PTI.

The company had in 1989 took the lead in the country to convert the Mercury Cell Technology to environment friendly and energy efficient Membrane Cell Technology and promote CDM projects to reduce Green House gas emission responsible for global warming, he said.

In addition to the windmill project, the company has identified and got registered three projects under the CDM projects and could go for modernisation of first lot of CERS, Mr. Mohapatra said.

To ensure efficient waste disposal, GACL has developed a landfill site for disposal of solid waste.

“Vermiculture is practised at GACL for converting the waste produced by the canteen, gardens and plants. It promotes effluent channel projects, adhering to the parameters of Central and Gujarat pollution Control Board,” he said.

The company has now joined hands with Dow Europe GmbH to set up a 20,000 TPA Chloromethane plant at Dahej with a 50-50 equity partnership, Mr. Mohapatra said.

GACL’s sales turnover has grown to around Rs. 1,500 crore and it is expected to be Rs. 5,000 crore within three years, he added.

The company is also in the process of increasing the capacity of Caustic soda manufacturing plant.

“We are in the process of increasing the capacity of our caustic soda manufacturing plant from the existing 1,200 tonnes per day to 2,000 tonnes per day,” Mr. Mohapatra said.

Besides, the company has also approved investment plans of Rs. 2,600 crore including projects of 150 Mw captive power plant, 900 tdp (tonnes per day) caustic soda expansion project and 84 TDP hydrogen peroxide plant expansion project, 450 tdp polyol and 24 tdp hydrazine project