"Tata Chemicals to Invest £60 Million in UK Sodium Bicarbonate Plant, to Close Lostock Unit"

Tata Chemicals Europe Limited (TCEL), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Tata Chemicals, has announced a significant £60 million (approximately ₹655 crore) investment to build a new pharmaceutical-grade sodium bicarbonate plant in Northwich, United Kingdom. This facility, slated to begin construction in 2025 and start production by 2027, will have an annual production capacity of 180,000 tons, effectively tripling TCEL’s current production of pharmaceutical-grade sodium bicarbonate in the UK.

As part of its restructuring, the company also revealed plans to close its underperforming Lostock chemical plant by January 2025, following consultations with employees, marking the end of operations at a unit that currently contributes about ₹1,200 crore, or 8% of Tata Chemicals’ annual turnover.

The new plant will use a patented process to capture carbon dioxide from energy generation emissions, turning it into a key raw material for the production of sodium bicarbonate. This move is designed to meet increasing demand from pharmaceutical manufacturers who require high-grade sodium bicarbonate for medicines and hemodialysis treatments.

The project will be financed through a mix of internal funds and debt, according to the company’s filing with Indian stock exchanges.

HBL