New Soda Ash Source?

Tata Chemicals is looking at extending its soda ash production activities in East Africa with proposals for a new plant in Tanzania. The firm already operates the Magadi Soda business at Lake Magadi in Kenya, acquiring it when it bought Brunner Mond. Presently, Tata is exploring the natural soda ash resources in Lake Natron and is studying the possibility of setting up a 500,000/tpy processing plant. An assessment is currently taking place, which should be completed by August 2007.