KIRIKKALE
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY

Our member company, Safir Tuz, one of the leading salt industry firms, aims to reduce foreign dependence for the pharmaceutical sector with its newly established next-generation Active Pharmaceutical Salt Production Facility in our province. The plant, which ensures domestic production, draws attention with its eco-friendly infrastructure: it utilizes mechanical vapor compression technology for energy efficiency, operates entirely on solar energy, targets zero water consumption, and relies 100% on renewable energy sources.

The facility is designed to make a significant contribution to the domestic production of pharmaceutical-grade sodium chloride (API), which is critically important for the pharmaceutical industry in Turkey. Alongside its high production capacity, the plant incorporates advanced technologies.

Raw salt extracted from rock salt mines in Çankırı and Kırıkkale is processed at the facility to meet the highest quality standards required by the pharmaceutical sector under GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) regulations.

In its first phase, the plant has an annual production capacity of 140,000 tons and is distinguished as one of Europe’s most advanced production facilities. With this project, the company has earned the distinction of being the first facility in Turkey to produce pharmaceutical-grade salt fully compliant with GMP standards.

The investment decision was made in 2018 following President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s call for an investment mobilization, and today, the company exports half of its production to 60 countries.

The highly purified active pharmaceutical salt is produced for sensitive formulations such as injectable solutions, serums, and eye drops. The purity level exceeds 99.9% and must meet GMP and pharmacopoeia standards. Previously, the pharmaceutical sector relied on imports for this salt; however, production at the Çerikli refinery ensures a secure, high-quality, and sustainable domestic supply, effectively eliminating foreign dependence.

With the existing facility, the company can meet all of Turkey’s demand for active pharmaceutical salt, and in the future, it aims to triple its production capacity and export the product internationally.