Super Silica
BIO has granted a USD 3.7 M loan to Super Silica Bangladesh Limited, a local family-owned manufacturing SME that is the first producer of Green Precipitated Silica in Bangladesh.
Amount
$ 3,700,000.00
Type of investment
Debt
Development impacts
- Local economic growth
- Private sector consolidation/innovation
- Fight against climate change
Beneficiary locations
Investment field
Enterprises
Activity
Manufacture of other organic basic chemicals
Organisation
Super Silica
Super Silica Bangladesh is a family-owned manufacturing company founded in 2014 in Bangladesh. The company produces sodium silicate – a chemical component used in various industries (e.g., soap, packaging, paint) – based on rice husk ash, an agricultural waste available abundantly in the country. The company has its own production site in Chittagong. In 2024, the company produces 14,000 tons of sodium silicate, representing a revenue of USD 2.5 M and an EBITDA of USD 450 k. It also launched a small production of activated carbon, a by-product of the sodium silicate. Majority of sales (98%) are conducted domestically.
The project consists in providing a USD 3.7M to finance the acquisition of new machineries and equipment, that will enable Super Silica to (1) increase the capacity production of sodium silicate and (2) start the production of green precipitated silica, a chemical component mainly used in the tire industry.
Development impacts
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Local economic growth
The project drives economic growth by improving the country’s trade balance. It supports the decrease of the country’s reliance on imports as Super Silica is the sole green sodium silicate and precipitated silica manufacturer in Bangladesh. The company also has the ambition to significantly expand exports within the region in the coming years. Additionally, the project support extra-income opportunities for rural communities involved in the collection of rice husk ash. With the planned expansion, more income-generating opportunities will be created.
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Private sector consolidation/innovation
The company has been a pioneer in Bangladesh in developing an innovative waste-to-value model that converts an agricultural waste into high-quality chemical components, adaptable to a wide range of industries. By expanding its production, Super Silica will leverage its technical expertise, industrial knowledge, industry relationships, and managerial capacity to capture new local and international markets.
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Fight against climate change
The project contributes to climate mitigation. It promotes an energy-efficient process compared to conventional silica production processes, thereby reducing energy consumption and enabling the reduction of the overall carbon footprint of industries using silica products. In addition, the project contributes to nature as this alternative process limits the pressure on natural resources compared to conventional silica production requiring sand mining.
Environmental & Social (E&S) review :
BIO has provided technical assistance to support the costs of performing an Environmental & Social (E&S) due diligence of the company’s existing plant and expansion project, by assessing its operations against EDFI E&S standards. As a result, Super Silica and BIO agreed on an action plan focusing on overall E&S management and capacity, but also specific decent work-related improvements.
E&S classification of the project: B
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