Tata chemicals Magadi shifts to green energy with 10MW solar project

Solar panels installed at the Tata Chemical Magadi factory, the company has embarked on an ambitious project transiting into green energy from fossil fuels in order to cut production cost and enhance sustainability. [Peterson Githaiga]

With climate change becoming intense and a major global challenge, Tata Chemicals Magadi Company in Kajiado County has embarked on an ambitious project transiting into green energy.from fossil fuels to cut production costs and enhance sustainability.

The Multi-National Soda Ash Company is moving in earnest to invest in environmentally friendly technologies and carbon-neutral trans and Soda products.

The project is linked to the expansion and upgrade of Tata Chemicals' trona soda ash manufacturing plant, increasing production from 300,000 tonnes to 1 million tonnes annually.

According to Joseph Kombo who is in charge of projects, the two-phase mega solar production plant targets to produce 10 Megawatts after the completion.

''The first phase will be producing five megawatts and will be commissioned next month July 2025, while the second one producing extra five megawatts assembling will commence immediately after the commissioning of the first phase'' said Kombo.

Speaking during the tour of the solar power plant at Magadi town on Tuesday, Kombo said the local community has been involved in this major plant assembling targeting to tap sun energy that is readily available in the region considering Magadi region enjoys scorching sun and excruciating heat.

''We have undertaken an approach to balance the growth strategies and business expansion with the impact on the planet and society. We have committed to reducing our carbon footprint as per the Science Based Target initiatives (SBTi) guidelines by 30 per cent by 2030'' said Kombo.

Kombo said that the solar plant power is estimated to cost between 5-6 US cents per kilowatt-hour( kWh from the National grid and 18-19 US cents per kilowatt-hour( kWh) saving the company a fortune.

''This has been a journey and as a company we are happy that we are getting very close, we plan to inject solar power which will reduce our reliance on the Kenya Power grid, and the power cost will be significantly reduced as we think about expansion and also increasing our capacity power cost is a critical component'' added Kombo.

Stephen Okiri head of Business excellence in the company said they had remained the biggest consumer of fossil fuel in the country, however, we are now rooting to reduce the reliance on the National grid saving significant costs in production.

''What we are doing is changing the technology from fossil fuels to solar powered electrical systems, by doing that we will eliminate fossil fuels in the next few years, and replace it with energy generated from the sun which is clean and sustainable, this will reduce the carbon dioxide which helps us to go with the climate change goals'' said Okiri.

He added ''Key levers have been identified to reduce, reuse and recycle key natural resources and waste. We are also continuously seeking ways to reduce our operational footprint and emissions, improve energy efficiency, use more renewable energy and reduce carbon intensity''.

The Company occupies 224,991 acre piece of land. It harvests soda ash from Lake Magadi, and it’s the world’s second-largest soda ash company covering over 100 million households in the consumer products category.

It also leads the branded salt market with a market share of over 60 per cent and is one of the category leaders in the business of pulses and water purifiers.