Praj Industries has completed the country's first integrated biorefinery demonstration plant for second generation (2G) ethanol built using its proprietary “enfinity’’ technology platform. The 1 million litre-per-annum capacity plant was officially inaugurated by Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister Road Transport, Highways and Shipping.
Praj Industries Ltd, an India-headed global process solutions provider for the wastewater, ethanol and beverage industries, has announced a “breakthrough” in the scale up of its 2G ethanol technology with successful completion and start-up of India’s first integrated biorefinery.
Located in near Pune, State of Maharashtra the 1 million litre-per-annum capacity demonstration plant is built on the company’s proprietary “enfinity’’ technology platform technology for producing ethanol from agri-waste. The plant was officially inaugurated by Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister Road Transport, Highways and Shipping.
Our country is paving its way toward greater energy self-reliance. Today I witnessed India’s first 2nd generation biorefinery demonstration plant and my belief in India’s capability in technology development as compared to the Western countries, has strengthened manifold. Biofuel is not only cost-effective but also a pollution-free import substitute of Rs 7 lakh crore. Our Government has initiated dialogues between my ministry, Petroleum Ministry and Renewable Energy Ministry to present a comprehensive blueprint and is now with the Prime Minister for consideration. There are multiple benefits that can accrue to the government, farmers, industries and consumers. Agricultural diversification is the need of the hour, wherein agri-waste will generate additional revenues to the farming community, said Minister Gadkari during his address.
According to Praj, its 2G biorefinery demonstration plant will produce ethanol by processing a variety of agri-residue like rice and wheat straw, cotton stalk, bagasse, cane trash, corn cobs and stover. With continual research and development, a further pipeline of other renewable fuels and chemicals is underway to be produced from this technology platform.
