Reviving Paranthan!

Lankan chemical giant making a comeback

• Paranthan Chemicals unveils state of the art storage
• ‘Safeguarding Lanka’s drinking water safety’-Rishad
• New scrubber clears 1000Kg Chlorine per hour
• ‘New Northern factories can revive production’-Rishad
• PCC profits at R40 Mn in 2014
• ‘Inviting global investors’-Rishad

The quality and safety of Sri Lankan water supplies are will be elevated to new levels once the country’s pioneering industry supplier starts producing the country’s total chlorine requirements domestically-and in view of this, the chlorine supplier, an industry pioneer in the country, has acquired a new, fortified storage facility in par with international standards, as revealed on 22 April. “Northern factories of PCC became inactive in 1985 and as a result, we have been depending on the import of such chemicals. We are looking to restore the Northern factories of Paranthan Chemicals. The Northern factories can commence promptly when the Elephant Pass saltern is recommenced” said Rishad Bathiudeen (Minister of Industry and Commerce of Sri Lanka) on 22 April.

Minister Bathiudeen was discussing with his top Ministry and Paranthan Chemicals Company (PCC) officials under him on 22 April at the soft inauguration event of the a new Chlorine Warehouse Facility located at Wagawatte Industrial Zone, Horana with $260,000 (Rs.35 Mn) initial investment. The state owned profit maker PCC has 65 employees and reported a Rs 40 Mn profit in 2014. PCC pays hefty taxes to the government and dividends to the treasury. The Horana storage facility features the latest chlorine Scrubber Installation Facility under the American Chemical Society standards. The chlorine Scrubber can process one tonne of Chlorine every hour.

“Paranthan Chemical Company, formerly “Paranthan Chemicals Corporation” can help us to lower industrial chemical costs” said Minister Bathiudeen, and added: ‘Northern factories of PCC became inactive in 1985 and as a result, we have been depending on the import of such chemicals burdening the local manufacturing sector with extra costs. The entire Liquid Chlorine needs of Sri Lanka are imported and scientifically handled by our PCC. 98% of the Liquid Chlorine is absorbed by the Water Supply and Drainage Board to provide safe drinking water to Sri Lankans. When we start making it here, our domestic water safety levels are enhanced. We are looking to restore the Northern factories of Paranthan Chemicals, next. PCC officials inform me the Northern factories could be revived with an initial investment of $300-400 Mn. We invite both local and global investors for this venture.”

With the recommencement of these factories we can produce our total Chlorine requirements domestically and save valuable foreign exchange of more than $ 860000 per year that we spend to import Chlorine. We can also manufacture other chemicals as well. The Northern factories can commence promptly when the Elephant Pass saltern is recommenced.”

Paranthan Chemicals Corporation was established in 1954 as a state owned Chemicals factory at Paranthan, Killinochchi District and manufactured such crucial chemicals as Caustic Soda, Liquid Chlorine, Hydrochloric Acid, Zinc Chloride and Table salt using local raw materials. PCC became inactive from 1985 due to the Northern war. In many ways the Northern PCC factories spurred the development of Sri Lankan manufacturing and industries by producing and supplying domestically made, low cost chemicals that were promptly absorbed by the industries. At present, through PCC, Sri Lanka imports its entire annual requirement of 2500 M-tonnes of Liquid Chlorine, at a cost of $ 864000 (Rs 115 Mn).

PCC recently started to locally manufacture the widely known bleaching liquid called “Sodium hypochlorite” which is used as a disinfectant and a bleaching agent. The Northern factory site in Paranthan spreads across 217 acres and was destroyed during the three decades of war.