Chemical engineer calls for local production of caustic soda

A Chemical engineer, Mr Issah Nikabs, is proposing the commercial production of caustic soda in the country. Mr Nikabs, a former Director in charge of industries, chemicals and pharmaceuticals at the Ministry of Trade and Industry, made the call in an interview with the Daily Graphic in Accra.

Caustic soda, also known as sodium hydroxide, is a by-product of salt.

Back in 2009, the Ghana Business News of December 11, 2009 reported that Ghana had the production potential of 2.2 million tonnes of salt annually.

It added that economists in Ghana believed the country's salt industry represented a potential source of revenue from Nigerian purchasers who relied on Brazilian imports.
It is estimated, for instance, that Nigeria alone requires some 600,000 metric tonnes of salt annually. However, Ghana produces only 240,000 metric tones and Mr Nikabs believes that apart from the economic potential of salt exports, there is a huge potential for the production of caustic soda for industries in the country.

Potential

Mr Nikabs was of the view that the big corporate organisations in the personal care sector of the country had done the country a disservice because instead of encouraging the production of caustic soda in the country, they continued to import large quantities of it.

Caustic soda is used in the food and beverage, cleaning, personal care, recycling and waste sectors.

Currently, big industrial companies in the food and personal care sectors import the product for use in the country. Some other commercial enterprises also import the product from China.

Mr Nikabs disclosed his intention to team up with other entrepreneurs to ensure the production of caustic soda in the country.

He recalled that during his tenure at the Ministry of Trade, Mr Allan Kyeremanteng, who was then the sector minister, initiated moves in relation to the production of caustic soda in the country.

He said at that time, it was estimated that $40 million worth of caustic soda was imported into the country.

Mr Nikabs said apart from the direct economic benefit that the production of caustic soda would bring to the country, it had the potential of creating employment opportunities for the youth.