Chemical and Construction Inputs Industry Development Institute (CCIIDI) disclosed the construction of two soap and soap noodle manufacturing factories will commence soon.

The two factories are Repi Wilmar and Allied Chemical factories. Repi is going to be built in Sebeta while Allied is planned to be seated at Adama, both in Oromia State.

Repi is estimated to cost Two Billion Birr and it will produce soap as well as soap noodles using byproducts of vegetable oil refinery which will be constructed there.

Commenting on this Anteneh Birhanu, a researcher at (CCIIDI), said; Soap noodle and soap will be produced from the byproducts of the vegetable oil. The factory creates opportunity to process agricultural products and use them as raw material."

This factory is going to be built in joint venture between Repi Soap and Detergent Company and Wilmar International, a Singapore company. The newly to be built factory is expected to commence production in two years time and it is said it will substitute the soap noodle Ethiopia has been importing.

BIrhanu Lema, Repi’s General Manager, on his part noted upon starting production the new factory will take his company’s annual production capacity to 120,000 tons from 20,000 tons. This will enable Ethiopia to meet its local demand and export the rest to neighboring countries such as Kenya, Somalia, Djibouti, Sudan and others.

On the other hand, the factory to be built in Adama is expected to cost 36 Million Birr and it is said to have a production capacity of 7,500 Metric Tons of soap ingredients.

When Allied starts production it will enable to substitute 90 percent of soap ingredients Ethiopia has been importing.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency