The Hindu Business Line : Fire at membrane cell plant hits Travancore Cochin Chem output

Kochi April 19 The fire in the rectifier transformer at the major membrane cell plant of the State public sector Travancore Cochin Chemicals Ltd (TCC), at nearby Eloor, has brought down the daily output of the unit to 50 tonnes from 175 tonnes.

Mr M.P. Sukumaran Nair, Managing Director, said that it would inflict a monthly loss of Rs 50 lakh. According to him, the Rs 2.5-crore rectifier transformer was bought in 1996 when the unit switched over to membrane cell technology.

`MECHANICAL FAULT'

The fire, he said, had taken place due some mechanical fault. The repairing would cost around Rs 30 lakh, he said.

Normally, no spare rectifier transformer is kept, as it is not a viable option, he said. The rectifier transformer converts 110-KV electricity to 230V DC current.

It is expected to take about two months to get the equipment repaired and production at the unit will be seriously affected during this period.

TCC is the main supplier of caustic soda to the user industries in the State such as Hindustan Newsprint Ltd and Kerala Minerals and Metals Ltd.

Some of the user industries have agreed to shut down their units for maintenance till the TCC plant resumes operations.

However, some of the units would be supplied with the available 50 tonnes produced daily at present, he said. But, the supply to customers outside the State has been suspended, he said.

"Unfortunately, this situation has arisen at a time when the unit was in further expansion mode and started making cash profits to the tune of Rs 50 lakh a month," Mr Nair added.

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