Angola welcomes its first-ever caustic soda factory

The project, known as the Salinas Calombolo project, was signed into existence on January 8 by the Development Bank of Angola (BDA) and project partners.

The caustic soda factory, a key component of the Salinas Calombolo project, is expected to cover an area of around five thousand square kilometres, generate 32 direct jobs, have a positive impact on public health, particularly in water treatment and surface disinfection, and reduce the importation of raw materials like sodium hypochlorite, caustic soda, and hydrochloric acid, reports local media Angop.

Caustic soda is a versatile chemical compound widely used in various industrial processes. It is a strong alkaline substance employed in the manufacturing of a diverse range of products, including paper, textiles, detergents, soaps, and certain types of chemicals.

Salinas Calombolo's representative, Adérito Areias Pereira, emphasized the project's potential to reduce the country's salt imports, currently costing $650 million annually.

“Our objective is to reach 500 thousand tons of salt urgently, exceeding the 200 thousand tons registered in 2023,” he was quoted by local media Angop.

The 'Alexandre's House' project, which was also signed and situated in Benguela, secured funding of 47.08 million euros. This initiative focuses on constructing a warehouse and an advanced industrial unit for receiving, freezing, and processing fish in the municipality of Baía Farta. The project is expected to boost national food security, support numerous Angolan families and create 203 direct jobs.

Patrícia de Almeida, the President of the Development Bank of Angola’s Executive Board, hailed these projects as the realization of a dream and substantial progress toward a more prosperous and sustainable future for Angola.