May 22 (SeeNews) - Romanian salt producer Salrom invested 1 million euro ($1.12 million) in an underground salt making station at the Praid salt mine, the economy minister said on Wednesday.
The new underground salt preparation plant will help increase efficiency and product quality, as well as eliminate pollution from the old plant, the ministry said in a statement.
The plant has a production capacity of 100,000 tonnes of salt per year.
Some 30%-40% of the necessary salt stock for the winter will be produced and stored in the underground facility.
Praid salt mine is a tourist destination visited by over 140,000 in the first four months of the year, up by 17% on the year.
Salrom, Romania's sole edible salt producer, was founded in 1997 by reorganising the former Regia Autonoma a Sarii Bucuresti in seven branches in the country: Ramnicu Valcea, Slanic, Ocna Dej, Ocna Mureș, Targu Ocna, Praid and Cacica. Its main products are rock salt solution, recrystallized salt and limestone.
The government, through the economy ministry, owns 51% of Salrom and 49% is controlled by property investment fund Fondul Proprietatea.
($=0.8953 euro)