Historical Development of the Sector

31.03.2008

     

In spite of the fact that the chemical industry is a relatively young branch of industry, it has a strong tradition in Slovenia. The first half of the 19th century saw the emergence of  various small chemical works on Slovenian territory, producing soap, paints, spirit and various auxiliary chemicals.

    

The first industrial chemical plants began to appear as early as the middle of the 19th century. A black powder plant of considerable military importance for the Austro-Hungarian monarchy was established in Kamnik and is still operating today under the name of KIK Kamnik. Two other significant chemical plants, the precursors of todays Cinkarna Celje and TKI Hrastnik, were also established in the 19th century. The establishment of these two producers, which were of great importance for that time, was helped by various factors: a favourable transport route providing railway connection with Vienna and the port of Trieste, the proximity of coal mines - coal at that time being the main source of energy as well as the availability of hard-working labour force. Manufacturing of tannin, alumina, nitrogen, calcium carbide, fertilizers and rubber products were likewise the early products of the Slovenian chemical industry.    

    

If the predominance of the manufacturing of basic chemicals, based on domestic raw materials and energy, was characteristic of the early stages of the Slovenian chemical industry, an altogether different trend can be observed in the period between World War I and World War II. During that time, a restructuring of the Slovenian chemical industry was brought about by a gradual abandonment of coal as the primary source of energy and, in some instances, as a source of raw materials, for a new course, which emphasised the downstream chemical industry and the manufacturing of finished consumer goods. The last step, which showed the way to the present state of the Slovenian chemical industry, was the post-World War II start of production of pharmaceutical and cosmetic products, pesticides, and rubber and plastic products.

 

Author: Janez Furlan, Director of the Chemical Industry Association