Solvay Sodi has equipped its heavy & calcinated soda plant in NE Bulgaria with a new 160-meter distiller claimed to be the world's largest, it was reported 4/11/05. The BGL 10.5M distiller will cut steam & ammonia consumption by 20% & will improve environmental & business performance. Solvay Sodi plans to invest BGL 15M in upgrading its facilities in 2005. The company has already spent over US$20M on production quality & new technologies. Some US$5M have been put into ensuring the environmental protection of the Varna lake into which wastewater is discharged. Currently, the Devnya plant makes around 1M tonnes of soda ash/pa. Devnya was privatised in 1997. At present 98% of its capital is held by Solvay Sisecam Holding, whose main shareholders are Belgian group Solvay, the European Bank of Reconstruction & Development, & Sisecam. Some 6,000 minority shareholders hold the remaining 2%.
