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Gujarat CM Inaugurates India's Largest Chlorotoluene Manufacturing Plant in Dahej.

National | Dated: 02 Apr 2025

In March 2025, Gujarat Chief Minister (CM) Bhupendra Patel virtually inaugurated India's largest Chlorotoluene plant at Dahej (Gujarat) on the foundation day of Vadodara (Gujarat)-based Gujarat Alkalies and Chemicals Limited (GACL).

🎯 Key Highlights:

- Established with an investment of Rs 350 crore, the plant aims to produce value-added chlorine derivatives, reducing import dependency and boosting exports.
- The newly inaugurated facility has an annual production capacity of 30,000 tonnes and will manufacture critical chemicals like Benzyl Chloride, Benzyl Alcohol, and Benzaldehyde.
- These chemicals are widely used in pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, and dyes. The plant will utilize chlorine, a by-product of caustic soda manufacturing, ensuring efficient resource utilization.

💡 Other Important Facts:

(i) Operational since 1973, GACL is a leading player in the chemical sector with three manufacturing units (two in Dahej, one in Vadodara).
(ii) It produces over 35 chemical products, including 8 lakh metric tonnes (MT) of caustic soda annually, and holds a monopoly in India for sodium chlorate and hydrazine hydrate.
(iii) This initiative aligns with India’s goal of enhancing self-reliance in specialty chemicals and expanding its global market share.

📚 Test Your Knowledge:

Who Recently inaugurated India’s largest Chlorotoluene manufacturing plant in Dahej, Gujarat?

Correct Answer: Bhupendra Patel

🚀 Quick Recap:

About Gujarat

Chief minister: Bhupendra Patel
Governor: Acharya Devvrat