Tata Chemicals, the world’s second largest producer of soda-ash and the most geographically-diversified soda ash company adopts a green supply chain strategy for the transportation of loose soda-ash by deploying Lupa bulkers.

Worth Rs. 45 lacs approximately, Lupa bulkers are vessels that are specially designed to transport unpackaged bulk cargo which are pneumatically loaded and unloaded thereby making the complete process automatic, cost effective and eco-friendly.

In line with Tata Group’s philosophy, Tata Chemicals supports the power of science and technology that passionately innovates what is essential to human welfare and progress. In its continuing journey towards pollution prevention, minimization of waste, eliminating the efforts of packaging, loading and unloading along with other critical resources at every stage of the life cycle of the product (soda-ash), the bulker is already in operation for Tata Chemicals Mithapur plant in Gujarat. Each bulker has an approximate capacity of 25 tons and can replace 3 million plastic bags each year. The company plans to incorporate 10 more bulkers in FY 12 – 13.

On this green transportation initiative, Zarir Langrana, COO, Chemicals Business (India), Tata Chemicals Ltd said, “As a significant global soda-ash manufacturer , Tata Chemicals is committed to reducing  CO2 emissions and its environmental footprint in support of environmentally benign  and responsible transportation of chemicals, thereby taking a pioneering step in the Indian Chemical Industry. In the near term, we are targeting 150000 MT of movement of Soda ash by bulkers which will help in CO2 reduction since there will be no usage of plastic bags and material handling equipment. A move like this within the industry will certainly revolutionize the way bulk chemicals are transported in India. We are also planning other alternate and innovative modes for long distance bulk movement of soda ash”.