PCHH subsidiary Bieco Link soon to re-start activated carbon plant
View(s):PCH Holdings PLC said this week its subsidiary Bieco Link Carbons (Pvt) Ltd will soon be fully operational once its custom-built factory on a 12 acre freehold property in Giriulla is upgraded and refurbished shortly.
The Beico Link factory seen here is the only one in Sri Lanka using both rotary and vertical kilns
PCHH majority shareholder Adam Investments Ltd took control of Bieco Link Carbons (Pvt) Ltd in November 2014, launching a programme to revive the company and resume production, according to a company announcement.
“Giriulla town and its residents depend on the factory for employment and income,” said Chaminda Banduthilake, Managing Director of PCH Holdings PLC.
Situated in the heart of the coconut triangle, the factory has the capacity to produce 500 MT of granular activated carbon per month for export. “With the reopening, the economy and inhabitants of Giriulla once again stand to benefit from our operations,” he noted.
From 1989, until early 2014 when the factory was shut down by the previous management, Bieco Link Carbons (Pvt) Ltd was Sri Lanka’s only manufacturer of coconut shell activated carbon in granular and powdered form using both vertical and rotary kiln technologies in steam activation process.
“The factory was once the second largest exporter of activated carbon” noted Mr. Banduthilake, “We expect to not just restore it to its former glory, but exceed it in performance and profitability”
Activated carbon is used as a purification agent in water treatment and air purification, as well as in the gold refining, petroleum and chemicals industry. Any carbonaceous materials can be used as a raw material to manufacture activated carbon, such as coconut shells, peat, wood, or coal.
Sri Lanka’s six activated carbon manufacturers prefer coconut shell charcoal for its ready availability in the island.
The vertical kilns produce activated carbon that is more efficient in gas absorption than that of rotary products. By carrying out the carbonization in closed kilns, instead of the traditional open pit method, Bieco Link Carbons (Pvt) Ltd has taken steps to eliminate pollution and avoid contamination from other substances.