Page 166 - CW E-Magazine (18-3-2025)

News from Abroad

ACQUISITION
Türkiye’s Ciner buys soda ash operations of USA’

Genesis Energy for $1.4-bn

Soda ash producer WE Soda, owned
by Türkiye-based diversified conglo-
merate Ciner Holding, has announced
the acquisition of Genesis Alkali, the
sodas ash subsidiary of US-based Gen-
esis Energy.

According to the company’s state-
ment, the transaction was completed
on February 28, with a valuation of emphasised, “We are now the world’s lar- process of simplifying our capital structure.
$1.425-bn. “This acquisition increases gest soda ash producer and the only one With the sale of the Alkali Business,
our total annual production capacity to with 100% natural production, further our primary focus will once again be
approximately 9.5-million tons, signifi- reinforcing our sustainability leader- on the midstream energy space and our
cantly enhancing our scale, geographic ship. We have diversified our portfolio industry leading businesses therein”.
diversity, customer reach, supply chain operationally and geographically while
infrastructure, and sustainability leader- gaining access to global infrastructure Over half of all soda ash production
ship,” it added. that will enhance our customer service is used in glass manufacturing, but it is
offerings.” also used in a wide range of other pro-
According to Turkish media reports, ducts, such as powdered detergents &
WE Soda has officially become the Commenting on the deal, Mr. Grant soaps and rechargeable batteries, as well
world’s largest soda ash producer with Sims, CEO of Genesis Energy, said, as being used extensively in metallurgi-
the acquisition of Genesis Alkali. WE “This transaction gives Genesis the cal processes, and across the food, cos-
Soda’s CEO Mr. Alasdair Warren, financial flexibility to accelerate the metic and pharmaceutical industries.

EXPANSION
Covestro ramps up polycarbonate films capacity

in Thailand

With the mechanical completion used in many applications across mul-
of new production lines at the Map tiple industries, such as healthcare,
Ta Phut Industrial Park in Thailand, mobility and identification documents.
German polymer firm, Covestro, has Since 2022, the Map Ta Phut site is
expanded global capacity for its poly- ‘ISCC PLUS’ certified, enabling it to
carbonate (PC) speciality films. The manufacture and supply mass-balanced
company said the project involved products. With the mass balance
investment in the “higher double-digit approach, bio-based or recycled raw
million Euro range”. materials are fed in at an early stage of raw
Films business entity. Covestro has material extraction and mathematically
“The new production facilities are been operating a facility for specialty allocated to the finished products. This
important to us because it enables faster films in Thailand since 2007. The range saves fossil raw materials and reduces
time to market and at the same time comprises polycarbonate films from the CO emissions, while the quality of
2
expands our market access in Asia- Makrofol range and Bayfol products the mass-balanced products remains
Pacific,” said Ms. Aukje Doornbos, made from polycarbonate blends. These identical to that of purely fossil-based
Covestro’s Global Head of the Specialty high-performance speciality films are products.

166 Chemical Weekly March 18, 2025

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