Mumbai, April 27, 2021: Godavari Biorefineries Limited (GBL), one of the pioneers in the manufacture of alcohol and alcohol-based chemicals in India will be expanding its current distillery capacity to become India’s largest syrup-based ethanol plant. Godavari has appointed Praj Industries for its expansion plans. As a part of this project, Praj will expand Godavari's existing ethanol manufacturing capacity from 400 KPLD to 600 KLPD, using sugarcane syrup.
While the world is moving towards sustainable practices to reduce carbon footprints, governments all over the world are promoting policies/programs to encourage companies/industries to incorporate green practices. The Government of India has also made several strategic interventions by way of expanding the ethanol blending programme, enabling the conversion of sugarcane juice/syrup to ethanol, other progressive policies, and conducive financial mechanisms. This helps India meet its energy security for transportation fuel by using biofuels, further helping fight climate change. It also helps bring more stability to farmer incomes by giving optionality to companies using sugarcane to make either sugar or ethanol. This capacity expansion planned by GBL is in line with the government’s biofuel policy to increase the ethanol manufacturing quantity in India using various sugary feed stocks.
The expansion capacity at GBL Plant will continue to be a zero liquid discharge facility.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Samir Somaiya, Chairman & Managing Director of Godavari Biorefineries Limited said, “Responding to government’s vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat, we decided to divert sugar cane syrup to distillery to manufacture Ethanol during the current season and expanded from 320 to 400 KLPD to continue our journey . We are happy to associate with Praj as our technology partner for our expansion plan. Praj will design, engineer, supply, install and increase our capacity from 400 KLPD to 600 KLPD ethanol production using sugar syrup as raw material. We look forward to building on our mutually rewarding relationship with Praj with our new ventures.”
Godavari Biorefineries Ltd., one of the first companies to associate with the government’s expanded program and supplied a large quantity of ethanol to the “Ethanol Blending Program” last year. Last year, the company delivered 45 million liters of ethanol to the program. Godavari Biorefineries pioneered the use of sugarcane syrup for making ethanol by diverting almost 30% of sugarcane directly following the Brazilian model. This year, the company is contracting to deliver more than 75 million litres for the ethanol blending programme. In the future, the company plans to produce more than 100 million litres in a single location.
-----ends-----
Godavari Biorefineries Ltd:
Godavari Biorefineries Ltd. a member of the Somaiya Group, was established in 1939 and is one of India’s leading and sustainable company producing sugar, other foods, biofuels, chemicals, power, compost, waxes, and related products, using sugarcane and other biomass as the primary feedstock. Our manufacturing plants are located at Sameerwadi, Bagalkot district in Karnataka and Sakarwadi, Ahmednagar district in Maharashtra.
Using molasses, a by-product of sugar production, as a feedstock, we are among the larger producers of ethanol in India. Now we are expanding our ethanol capacity by using Sugar Syrup. A pioneer in the use of ethanol as a feedstock of the production of chemicals, we make various chemicals, such as acetaldehyde, ethyl acetate, crotonaldehyde, MPO, paraldehyde. Our products are used in thousands of everyday products including adhesives, solvents, inks, flavours, plastics, and several others.
We have a multi-storeyed state-of-the- art research facility to focus on research and innovation to address the significant and growing demand for chemical products made from renewable feedstock. To learn more about our product portfolio please visit www.somaiya.com
For more information, please contact:
Pushpendra Dhansoia, +91 9029037173, dhansoia.pushpendra@somaiya.com
