SOLVAY TO BOOST SODA ASH PRODUCTIVITY WITH CAPACITY EXPANSION, NEW BIOMASS BOILER

Solvay S.A. (Brussels, Belgium; www.solvay.com) plans to undergo several measures to optimize the efficiency of its soda ash and sodium bicarbonate production sites. The company recently outlined plants for increasing the production capacity of soda ash by 500,000 metric tons per year (m.t./yr) and of sodium bicarbonate by 100,000 m.t./yr in the next two years to secure customer supplies in a tight market where demand continues to grow. Solvay will increase its production capacity thanks to data analytics, digital projects and selective debottlenecking at its soda ash plants worldwide, to maximize the production rate and improve the plants’ reliability. Furthermore, Solvay is investing in a new biomass boiler at its soda ash plant in Rheinberg, Germany, a decision that will cut the site’s CO₂ emissions by more than 30% while at the same time improving its competitiveness.  The new biomass boiler technology – which burns recycled wood chips – will lower CO₂ emissions by 190,000 m.t./yr.