News and Articles

• SOKA received environmental clearance to double soda ash capacity to one million tons per year
• The expansion will be completed in phases, starting with an increase to 750,000 tons annually
• Around 2,000 new jobs are expected to be created in Gujarat’s coastal region
• Higher capacity will support detergents, glass, solar glass, chemicals, and other industries
• The project strengthens domestic supply and export capabilities while supporting clean energy growth

RSPL Group has marked a major step forward in its industrial operations with fresh environmental clearance for capacity expansion at its soda ash manufacturing arm, SOKA. The approval allows the Gujarat coastal plant to scale its annual soda ash output to one million tons, doubling its current capacity of 500,000 tons. Alongside this expansion, the company also plans to introduce sodium bicarbonate production, broadening its chemical portfolio and strengthening its position in the domestic and global markets.

The expansion will be carried out in phases, beginning with an ongoing plan to raise production to 750,000 tons per year over the next two years. This initial increase of 250,000 tons will be executed within SOKA’s existing inorganic chemical complex, which has been designed to support large-scale growth. The company expects to reach the full one-million-ton capacity in the near term, aligning its manufacturing scale with rising demand from multiple industrial sectors.

A significant outcome of this project will be employment generation in Gujarat’s coastal region. As outlined in the memorandum of understanding signed in 2023, the expansion is expected to create around 2,000 new jobs, adding to the current workforce and supporting local livelihoods. This growth is set to place SOKA among the country’s leading soda ash producers while contributing to regional economic development through associated infrastructure and service needs.

The increased capacity will also enhance SOKA’s role as a key supplier to industries that rely heavily on soda ash. Soda ash light is widely used in detergent manufacturing and is essential for water treatment, chemical processing, and the pulp and paper sector. Soda ash dense serves as a core raw material for glass manufacturing, including flat, float, and container glass, and is also used in metallurgy, ceramics, dyes, and textiles. With the expansion, SOKA aims to strengthen its supply of soda ash for solar glass, an important input for solar panels and renewable energy applications.

Company leadership has indicated that the clearance supports national manufacturing priorities by improving domestic availability of critical raw materials. The expansion is being pursued with an emphasis on advanced processes, responsible operations, and long-term community development. The focus extends beyond output growth to include local economic support, sustained employment, and structured social initiatives tied to the plant’s presence in the region.

SOKA’s soda ash facility was commissioned in 2019 in the Dwarka district of Gujarat and has since built a strong export footprint, supplying nearly 50 countries across Central America, Africa, and the Asia Pacific region. The greenfield plant, developed with international technology support and backed by a captive co-generation power unit, has helped ensure a stable domestic supply of soda ash. This reliability plays an important role in supporting India’s solar glass manufacturing base and wider clean energy goals, while also driving industrial growth within Gujarat.