Adam Carbon reignites Bieco Link kilns in Giriulla

Minister of Finance Ravi Karunanayake lights the factory kilns and commences production of activated carbon

The Adam Carbons factory in Giriulla, upgraded and refurbished, is now fully operational

Dr. Ali Gulamhusein, Minister Ravi Karunanayake and Jayantha Sittampalam during the tour of the factory

Bieco Link’s activated carbon factory, renamed Adam Carbons Ltd. after Adam Investments PLC bought out previous owners PCHH PLC, is commencing production after a brief period of inactivity, the company announced at a media conference held at the Giriulla factory premises recently.

The opening and re-commissioning of its activated carbon factory was attended by Minister of Finance Ravi Karunanayake.

The factory, once Sri Lanka’s second biggest exporter of activated carbon has seen its fortunes revive since Adam Investments PLC became the majority shareholder of its parent company PCHH PLC (now Adam Capital PLC) in November 2014.

Adam Carbons strives to surpass its earlier position as the powerhouse of industry in the North Western Province providing employment and earning vital foreign exchange for Sri Lanka. Infused with new capital, the new owners have re-equipped the plant, appointed new management, and repaired buildings and premises in a refurbishment spanning six months.

In addition to improving the state of the factory, the company has also made efforts to improve relations with the people of Giriulla. A pirith ceremony was held on 29 November at the factory to build a relationship between the company, its employees and the community.

Giriulla is situated in the heart of the coconut triangle and its inhabitants supply the factory with coconut husks used in the production of activated carbon. “Giriulla town and residents depended on the factory for employment and income,” said Chaminda Banduthilake, Managing Director of Adam Capital PLC. 

The period of inactivity had affected the local economy and had negative impact on the town. “With the reopening, the economy and inhabitants of Giriulla once again stand to benefit from our operations,” Banduthilake noted.

Poised to impact local activated carbon production, Adam Carbons Ltd. enjoys an advantageous location in the coconut belt with raw material suppliers readily available in the area. An urgent campaign sparking worldwide interest yielded orders from overseas buyers spanning three months’ production. 

Only factory to possess rotary and flatbed kilns Adam Carbons Ltd. can supply demand for both granular and powdered activated carbon, with anticipated production 6,000 metric tons annually. From 1989 until it shut-down in 2014, the factory was Sri Lanka’s only manufacturer of coconut shell activated carbon in both forms using vertical and rotary kiln technologies in steam activation process.  

Activated carbon is used as a purification agent in water treatment and air purification, as well as in the gold refining, petroleum and chemicals industries. 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.