Indian chemical contractor Nuberg has been given the nod to build a $20 million calcium chloride plant for TCI Sanmar Chemicals at Port Said, Egypt. The new facility, which will be integrated into an existing chemical complex producing caustic soda, EDC, VCM, and PVC, will be able to manufacture 135,000 t/y of calcium chloride from hydrochloric acid produced at the site.

Altogether, the Chennai, India-based Sanmar Group, among the leading producers of caustic soda, plans to invest an additional $300 million at the Egyptian site. The calcium chloride plant is due to start up at the end of 2017, with output to be marketed in North and South America, along with western Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

The Nuberg contract includes plant design, detailed engineering and procurement of complex chemical equipment for production of anhydrous calcium chloride granules. Russia’s Zirax will provide its proprietary technology. The Russian company will also perform basic engineering and prepare technical regulatory documentation.

On completion of the current second phase of development at Port Said, TCI Sanmar Chemicals will have invested $1.5 billion at the site. Along with the calcium chloride unit, the newest projects will include a doubling of PVC capacity to 400,000 t/y.