Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (Indian Oil) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Praj Industries as its technology partner for setting up multiple second-generation (2G) ethanol plants in India.
Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (Indian Oil), India’s flagship national oil company, has selected Praj, a Pune-based global process solutions leader, as its technology partner for setting up multiple second-generation (2G) ethanol plants based on indigenously developed technology. Indian Oil will be setting up three such 2G bio-ethanol plants.
Like other Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) Indian Oil is blending biofuels in transportation fuels at the depot to bring down dependency on crude oil imports and to avail of the resultant economic and environmental benefits. In order to enhance ethanol availability in the country for blending with petrol, Indian Oil is developing 2G ethanol production infrastructure using lignocellulosic biomasses as feedstock.
It is a great honour for us to be chosen by Indian Oil to become their technology partner in multiple 2G bio-ethanol projects in India. We have prepared ourselves to execute 2G ethanol projects of over Rs. 3000 crore in two-three years. Our ‘Smart Biorefinery’ is capable of producing bio-ethanol and other co-products such as bio-CNG, power, and a variety of biochemicals, said Pramod Chaudhari, Executive Chairman, Praj Industries Ltd.
At the World Biofuels Day conference held in New Delhi recently, the Government of India announced that a ‘biomass-based biofuels policy’ is in the offing to give a boost to the agro-economy and to promote clean, renewable energy. This endeavor will be a socio-economic and environmental enabler as the farming community will generate additional revenues from agri-waste, which will be utilized to produce ethanol.
Praj is also providing assistance to Indian Oil for achieving various milestones towards holistic development of these 2G ethanol projects at various suitable locations across the country. Praj will also supply plant and machinery and assist with plant operations and maintenance (O&M).
