Novacap starts production at Jurong Island carbon utilisation plant

FRENCH chemicals group Novacap has started production at its new sodium bicarbonate plant on Jurong Island.

The plant, plans for which were first announced a year ago, is the first in Singapore to capture carbon emissions from neighbouring companies on a large scale for use in its manufacturing process.

The fully automated unit, operated by Novabay Pte Ltd, will run 24 hours a day. It currently has a production capacity of 70,000 tonnes, and will eventually raise this to 120,000 tonnes.

The facility, Novacap's first outside of France for its mineral specialties division, has set its sights on meeting Asia's growing demand for sodium bicarbonate for healthcare, dialysis, personal care, food and industrial applications.

Lim Kok Kiang, assistant managing director at the Economic Development Board, said: "Singapore is proud to be Novacap's strategic base in Asia, offering them an efficient and effective location to serve the growing Asian middle class.

"As Jurong Island's first commercial scale carbon utilisation project, Novabay's investment is aligned with our aim to grow the industry in a competitive and sustainable manner."