On the occasion of World Biofuels Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled the first of its kind & Asia’s First 2G Ethanol Bio-Refinery of Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) at Panipat Haryana. Praj is technology licensor and EPCM partner for this landmark project. This project is based on Praj’s proprietary technology processing Rice Straw as feedstock for the production of Ethanol.
Spanning across 35 acres, this 2G Ethanol Bio-Refinery can process 2 lakh tonnes of rice straw annually to generate around 3 crore litres of Ethanol using Praj’s proprietary technology. While benefiting more than 1 lac farmers, this Bio-Refinery is expected to create around 1500 jobs for rural youth. Importantly, it will help address the major challenge of stubble burning-related pollution by eliminating around 320,000 MT of CO2 annually, equivalent to replacing nearly 63,000 cars on the road annually. This 2G Bio-Refinery alone will save foreign exchange worth INR 55 – 60 crores yearly that is otherwise incurred on fuel imports. This project will boost the Make in India initiative & help achieve 20% ethanol blending.
Praj’s indigenously developed ‘enfinity’ technology processes different agricultural residues to produce various products, including Bioethanol, Lignosulphonates, and Bio-bitumen, with the highest efficiencies. Praj has optimized the project’s CAPEX and OPEX by harnessing design & engineering capabilities along with four decades of experience in the Bioeconomy.
Speaking about this historical achievement, Dr Pramod Chaudhari, Founder Chairman of Praj, said, “We are very proud of our association with IOCL to set up this coveted project. We believe the success of this project reinforces India’s technology leadership in the global Bioeconomy.”
The Bio-Refinery’s commissioning began in the 1st week of August 2022, and commercial production of 2G Ethanol will commence within 90 days.
Along with this project, Praj is also setting up similar projects for Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL), Bhatinda, Punjab and Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL), Bargarh, Orissa.