RSPL Group’s SOKA Doubles Soda Ash Capacity to 1 Million Tons, Strengthening India’s Industrial and Renewable Ecosystem

BANGALORE | GUJARAT | INDIA, — RSPL Group, one of India’s fastest-growing FMCG and diversified industrial conglomerates, has marked a major milestone in domestic chemical manufacturing as its soda ash arm, SOKA, secured environmental clearance to double production capacity at its Gujarat coastal plant. The expansion will raise annual soda ash output from 500,000 tons to 1 million tons, positioning SOKA among India’s largest soda ash manufacturers and reinforcing the country’s self-reliance in critical industrial raw materials.

The development comes at a time when India’s startup ecosystem, manufacturing-led growth strategy, and clean energy ambitions are increasingly aligned, drawing interest not only from institutional investors but also from long-term industrial capital and infrastructure-focused funds. While Venture Capital activity remains concentrated in technology-led sectors, capital-intensive manufacturing expansions such as SOKA’s reflect a parallel investment cycle driven by policy stability, sustainability demand, and industrial scale.

Strategic Capacity Expansion at Gujarat Coastal Facility

SOKA’s Gujarat plant, commissioned in 2019 in Dwarka district, is currently one of India’s most advanced greenfield soda ash facilities. With the newly granted environmental clearance, the company will scale production capacity to 1,000,000 tons per annum (MTPA), up from its existing 500,000 MTPA, alongside plans to manufacture sodium bicarbonate (SBC).

As part of a phased expansion strategy, SOKA is already executing an immediate plan to raise output to 7,50,000 tons per year over the next two years, adding 2,50,000 tons through capacity augmentation at its state-of-the-art inorganic chemical complex. The final scale-up to one million tons is expected to be achieved in the near future.

This expansion underscores the increasing strategic importance of basic chemicals within India’s broader industrial and renewable energy value chain—an area now attracting attention from private equity, sovereign funds, and institutional investors seeking stable, long-term returns beyond traditional Series A Funding or Seed Round–driven startup models.

Employment Generation and Regional Economic Impact

The expansion is projected to generate approximately 2,000 new jobs in Gujarat’s coastal region, in line with the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in 2023. This will significantly augment SOKA’s existing workforce and contribute to infrastructure development and livelihood creation in the region.

By anchoring large-scale industrial employment outside metro hubs, RSPL Group’s investment aligns with national priorities under the ‘Make in India’ initiative, strengthening regional manufacturing clusters while reducing dependency on imports of critical industrial chemicals.

Supplying Core Industries and the Clean Energy Transition

Soda ash remains an essential input across a wide range of industries. Soda Ash Light is widely used in detergent manufacturing, water treatment, chemical processing, and the pulp and paper industry. Soda Ash Dense plays a critical role in glass manufacturing, including flat, float, and container glass, and is further utilized in metallurgy, ceramics, dyes, and textiles.

Importantly, SOKA expects the expanded capacity to significantly enhance its presence in the solar glass segment, a crucial component in solar panel manufacturing. As India accelerates renewable energy deployment, reliable domestic soda ash supply is emerging as a strategic necessity—placing manufacturers like SOKA at the intersection of industrial policy and climate-driven growth.

This mirrors a broader trend seen globally, where clean energy–linked manufacturing is increasingly supported by blended capital models involving development finance institutions, infrastructure funds, and strategic M&A activity, rather than traditional venture capital alone.

Leadership Commentary

Commenting on the milestone, Tinku Chhabra, CEO, SOKA, said:

“The environmental clearance to expand our soda ash manufacturing capacity is a significant step in advancing the ‘Make in India’ vision. Our plant plays a critical role in strengthening the domestic industrial ecosystem by supplying essential raw materials to key sectors such as detergents, glass, solar glass, textiles, and chemicals. As we scale up, we remain committed to adopting advanced technologies and embedding sustainable practices across operations.”

He further emphasized SOKA’s broader economic role, noting the company’s focus on local employment generation, CSR-led community development, and responsible industrial growth, reinforcing RSPL Group’s long-term commitment to national self-reliance.

Technology, Sustainability, and Global Reach

SOKA’s existing 500,000 MTPY greenfield facility is powered by NIOCHIM’s advanced technology, engineered by Jacobs Engineering (WorleyParsons India), and supported by a captive co-generation power plant, ensuring energy efficiency and operational reliability.

The company currently exports soda ash to nearly 50 countries across Central America, Africa, and the APAC region, underscoring India’s growing competitiveness in global chemical supply chains. With expanded capacity, SOKA is expected to further strengthen export volumes while ensuring consistent domestic availability—an increasingly important factor as global supply chains face volatility.

About RSPL Group

Founded in 1988 with the iconic Ghadi detergent, RSPL Group has evolved into a diversified FMCG and industrial powerhouse with interests spanning fabric care, home and personal care, dairy and packaged foods, lifestyle and footwear, agri-products, chemicals, and renewable energy.

Employing over 25,000 people, the Group operates across urban and rural India and maintains a growing international presence in Bangladesh, Nepal, Ethiopia, and Dubai. Through CSR initiatives led by the Laxmi Devi Dayal Das Charitable Trust and RSPL Welfare Foundation, the Group actively supports education, healthcare, environmental protection, animal welfare, and community development nationwide.

Market Analyst’s Note

SOKA’s capacity expansion highlights a structural shift in India’s investment landscape, where industrial manufacturing and clean energy supply chains are emerging as parallel growth engines alongside the startup ecosystem. While Venture Capital remains focused on digital-first models, large-scale chemical and materials projects are increasingly backed by long-term capital, infrastructure funds, and strategic investors. As renewable energy adoption accelerates, soda ash manufacturing is poised to become a quiet but critical pillar of India’s sustainable industrial future.

Disclaimer: This article is based on a press release issued by RSPL Group. The content has been edited for clarity and length and does not necessarily reflect the views of the publication.