BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 25
By Amina Nazarli - Trend
The Turkmen Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (UIET) and the State Concern Turkmenhimiya will establish an open joint-stock company "Balkanhimsenagat" ("Balkanhimprom") on the basis of the iodine factory "Balkanabat", Trend reported referring to the union.
The project calls for the renovation of the iodine plant's workshops, as well as the development of new chemical products for industrial and medicinal applications, in order to replace imports and expand the Turkmen chemical industry's export potential.
It is planned to launch technological lines for the production of caustic soda, chlorine, and chlorine-containing products at the Balkanabat plant.
Currently, more than 60 percent of the world's chlorine production is utilized to make organochlorine chemicals such as polyvinyl chloride, plastic compounds, and synthetic rubber. The next link in the chain is the production of insulation for cables, window profiles, packaging materials, coatings, parts, and devices, among other things. Some 10-20 percent is spent on the manufacturing of inorganic chemicals, 5-15 percent goes for bleaching cellulose and fabrics, and 2-6 percent is required for hygienic needs and water chlorination.
The UIET contributes significantly to the diversification of Turkmenistan's chemical sector by establishing small and medium-sized private firms.
