Model solar salt farm to come up in Gujarat

A model solar farm will be established in Gujarat based on the internationally patented technology of the Central Salt Marine & Chemical Research Institute (CSMCRI) to manufacture export-grade high purity salt.

“A model farm will be set up in cooperation with the Gujarat Government on 10-20 acres of land having a scientific design and layout suitable for a solar salt works,” Dr Pushpito Ghosh, Director CSMCRI, told PTI.

“Our internationally patented technology will be used at this farm to manufacture over 99 per cent NaCl (Sodium Chloride) purity salt,” he said.

The cost effective farm model would be a boon for small salt producers, who cannot afford research. It would demonstrate how effectively high purity salt can be obtained, with virtually no environmental hazard, and would help facilitate salt cluster development, Ghosh said.

A proposal for setting up a model solar salt farm has been sent to the Gujarat Government. The farm is expected to come up by March next year.

It is essential to tell industry about effective brine management practices and how to produce high purity export grade salt both from the sea and underground water without compromising on yield, Dr V. P. Mohandas, Sr Principal Scientist CSMCRI, said.

The proposed model farm would aptly demonstrate it, he said.

Perfecting brine chemistry to obtain high purity salt through solar evaporation shall be the technological highlight of this farm, he said.

Gujarat produces around 15 million tonnes of salt annually. Amongst the largest salt producing States in India, it accounts for 73 per cent of total India’s salt production.

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