Page 176 - CW E-Magazine (9-4-2024)

Salt Expo & ICASMC 2024

33-mt salt output puts India at third tion. “Increasing the production of salt “salt has two parents and no one is tak-
spot globally and at improved quality to sustain in- ing care of salt.”
Speaking at the inaugural session, dustries like the chlor-alkali sector is
Dr. Kannan Srinivasan, Director, CSIR- the need of the hour. The recovery of He added that the laws governing
CSMCRI, highlighted the institute’s marine chemicals and adoption of latest the industry are quite old and framed
contributions in making India self-reli- technologies is very important in this during the times of British rule. ISMA
ant in salt production since its inception scenario,” he added. has been demanding the consideration
in 1954. of salt as an agricultural product, in-
‘Two parents, but still neglected’ stead of a mining product, as salt pro-
Mr. Bharat Raval, President, Indian duction by mining accounts for only
Salt Manufacturers’ Association 0.5% of total output, while 99.5% of
(ISMA), and Vice President, Grasim salt is produced from seawater or sub-
Industries – Chemical Division, noted soil water. Hence, ISMA is demanding
that Gujarat, Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu to consider salt an agricultural product,
together account for 95% of salt pro- given that it is a seasonal industry.
duction in the country.
“We need a new National Salt Act
as a common policy for the entire coun-
try,” Mr. Raval emphasised.

‘Poor demand from European
Dr. Kannan Srinivasan chlor-alkali’
“In 2024, which is roughly 70 years In his address, Dr. Franz Goetz-
from the existence of this institute, fried, owner of Germany-based Salt
India’s salt production grew from 2-mt Research+Consulting, pointed to the
to roughly around 33-mt. Almost all the current low salt demand in Europe by
technologies that we have developed the chlor-alkali industry, which is im-
in this domain of salt, which later on pacted by high energy prices, which
expanded to marine chemicals, have have reduced average operating rates
played a huge role in the industry’s Mr. Bharat Raval of electrolysis plants to only 60%. “Salt
development,” he said. “Of the 12,000 units in the country, is systemically important and countries
only 400 are large-scale units. Of the like India, which have their own sup-
Dr. Srinivasan highlighted the huge total salt production, edible salt ac- ply, have a huge advantage,” he added.
scope for growth in the salt and marine counts for 10-mt and industrial salt for
chemicals industry and said “as we around 9.5-mt. Exports have touched ‘Embrace technological advancements’
head towards 2047 when our country 10-mt each year in the past 3-4 years. Dr. Daniel McKorley, Founder,
celebrates 100 years of independence, Even though the major consuming in- Chairman & CEO of Ghana-based
we will be number two in the world in dustry of chlor-alkali is growing at McDan Group of Companies, emphasised
salt production and marching towards around 6-7 percent, the salt industry aver- that there is no business and industry
number one in the world.” ages just half of that figure. Demand in the modern world that can thrive
is, however, set to go up, so we have to without salt.
Dr. Arvind Kumar, Chief Scientist, find ways to increase salt production,”
CSIR-CSMCRI and the convenor of he observed.
the conference, informed that the while
the global salt production has crossed With only four major production
330-mt, India accounts for about 10% centres, logistics is a key aspect and
of this production. “India is aiming to a challenge for the industry. There is
surpass the US in next 5-10 years,” need to reduce road transportation and
he said. opt for water routes, he said.

The chlor-alkali sector consumes Mr. Raval said that with salt being a
around 40% of the total salt produc- Central subject and land a State subject, Dr. Daniel McKorley

176 Chemical Weekly April 9, 2024

Contents Index to Advertisers Index to Products Advertised