A century of impact and innovation

Tata Chemicals Magadi Limited occupies a significant place in the African economy. It is Africa's largest soda ash manufacturer and one of Kenya's leading exporters. Just as significant, the company is an important part of the socio-economic fabric of the Lake Magadi region in Kenya, where its soda ash facility is based.

Established in 1911, Tata Chemicals Magadi Limited has been producing soda ash at Lake Magadi for a hundred years. The site is situated 120 kms south-west of Nairobi. Here, the company recovers trona (a naturally occurring mineral that contains sodium carbonate compounds) from one of the purest surface deposits in the base of the Rift Valley at Lake Magadi. Tata Chemicals Magadi converts trona into soda ash, which is transported by rail to the Port of Mombasa for onward shipping to the markets.

Soda ash is an essential constituent in the manufacture of glass and the production of detergents and industrial chemicals. Over 95 per cent of the company's product is exported to its principal markets of South East Asia, Indian sub-continent, Africa and the Middle East. Our mineral deposit, Lake Magadi, is also home to the purest salt in the world. Our heritage spans more than 100 years of producing the best natural salt, produced at source. Magadi Salts have a wide range of applications in industrial and animal feeds.

Sustainability is core to Tata Chemicals Magadi's operations. The company is an equal-opportunity employer and has over 600 people on its payroll. The role that Tata Chemicals Magadi plays in the local community takes it far beyond the mantle of local employer. Over the decades, Tata Chemicals Magadi has built deep connections with the local community through a number of health, education and employment initiatives.