Raigam expands with Kuchchaveli saltern
Harshini Perera
|
Dr Liyanage |
The Raigam Eastern Salt Company in Kuchchaveli, Trincomalee will
target a production of 50,000 metric tons per annum with an investment
of Rs 550 million, Raigam Group Chairman and CEO Dr. Ravi Liyanage told
Daily News Business.
Dr Liyanage said the development of the saltern was started in
October 2009. Thirty percent of the construction has already been
completed and the rest will be completed by 2012. The saltern, in extent
of 1,900 acres will be double the size of the existing largest saltern
in Sri Lanka.
It will provide 1,500 employment opportunities to the people in the
area after completion. Already in the construction phase 150 employment
opportunities have been provided.
Going in line with salt manufacturing the excess production of salt
will be utilized to set up a chemical plant to produce chlorine, caustic
soda, soda ash and HCL which are at present entirely imported to the
country spending a substantial amount of foreign exchange. Through this
initiative Raigam endeavours to make Sri Lanka self-sufficient not only
in salt but in salt-based chemicals also saving millions of foreign
exchange that is being drained out of the country at present.
Dr. Liyanage said there is a good potential and capacity to promote
tourism coupled with the saltern, which will be the secondary objective
of the project. |
