Solvay Ash and Derviatives has announced an increase in annual natural soda ash production at its Green River plant in Wyoming by 150,000 metric tons (mt) by Q1 2015 pending growing demands for U.S. exports. The plant’s Trona mine now produces 2 million metric tons a year (mt/y).
The gradual 12% increase “is to reinforce global leadership in soda ash,” said Christophe Clemente, president of the subsidiary’s global business unit. Green River, which produces natural soda for glass, is Solvay’s largest U.S. production site, with more than 400 employees.
Solvay Soda Ash and Derivatives is an industry leader with soda ash serving glass, detergent and chemical markets and sodium bicarbonate and trona serving food, animal feed, flue gas cleaning and health care markets. The unit has 12 industrial sites with more than 4,000 employees in 90 countries; its Brussels-based parent, Solvay, employs 29,000 people in 55 countries.
