Tata Chemicals said Kenya’s High Court found it had no jurisdiction over its subsidiary’s challenge to a mining suspension, leaving the compliance dispute unresolved as a joint government-company review continues.
The company disclosed the order, dated Oct. 23, in a filing to the National Stock Exchange of India on Oct. 24. It said Tata Chemicals Magadi Limited (TCML) was examining the decision and considering legal and other steps. The filing did not explain the court’s reasoning.
The case stems from a July 28 notice by Kenya’s Ministry of Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs. Tata Chemicals said the notice stopped mining while the ministry reviewed whether TCML met statutory requirements and sought supporting records. The company also said the measure suspended soda ash exports. Kenya News Agency reported that the ministry’s concerns included royalty payments, export reporting, community development agreements, employment and skills plans, local processing and procurement, and environmental compliance.
TCML sought temporary court protection from the suspension. The High Court rejected that request on Aug. 7, according to its ruling. The later jurisdiction decision leaves the ministry’s compliance allegations unresolved; it does not determine whether TCML met each requirement.
The Standard reported that Justice William Musyoka viewed the Environment and Land Court as the proper forum and said he could not move the case there from the High Court. Tata Chemicals’ filing confirms the jurisdiction outcome but does not detail that reasoning.
Tata Chemicals said TCML submitted the information requested by the ministry on Aug. 11 and was awaiting its review and further direction. After a Sept. 8 meeting, the ministry and TCML formed a technical committee led by Kenya’s Principal Secretary for Mining and the subsidiary’s chief executive. The committee is to report to the Cabinet Secretary; Tata Chemicals has announced no deadline.
The dispute also comes amid a push for more local processing of Kenya’s mineral resources. Kenya News Agency reported that President William Ruto called for a new investor and local glass and chemical processing facilities. Tata Chemicals says the Magadi operation began in 1911 and that it acquired the plant in 2005.
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) identifies TCML as Kenya’s sole soda ash producer. The USGS estimated the country produced 264,921 metric tons in 2024, up from 240,784 tons in 2023, ranking it fourth worldwide among natural soda ash producers and accounting for 1% of global output.
In an August statement, Tata Chemicals Magadi said about 500 employees and their families, along with contractors, suppliers, transporters and local businesses, depended directly or indirectly on its activity. The company also said about 30,000 people in the Magadi community directly benefited from its support.
