Bhubaneswar: Zuari Industries Limited (ZIL) and Slovakia-based Envien have agreed to jointly develop, construct and operate a 150 KLPD grain-based distillery to manufacture and supply ethanol to oil marketing companies under the Ethanol Blending Programme of the Government of India. The distillery will be developed at Aira, Lakhimpur Kheri, UP and is expected to commence commercial operations by mid-2024. The distillery will provide direct and indirect employment to approximately 2000 people. The distillery is being implemented by Zuari Envien Bioenergy Pvt Ltd, which will own and operate the project as a joint venture (JV) company. The JV will explore organic and inorganic growth prospects to scale up the production of ethanol to ~1000 KLPD in near future.
Commenting on the development, Athar Shahab, MD, Zuari Industries Limited said, “We are delighted to partner Envien Group to pursue this exciting opportunity that resonates strongly with India’s vision of sustainable development. This will significantly enhance our contribution to the ethanol blending programme of the country that is crucial for reducing our dependence on fossil fuels and import of crude.”
Robert Spišák, Director, Envien International Limited said, “The capacity of the Indian market is simply staggering, and it is a testament to the entrepreneurial spirit and resilience of its Indian people. We are proud to partner with Adventz Group, a respected and established Indian conglomerate with a rich legacy and strong commitment towards clean and green fuels. We are confident that our shared values and complementary strengths shall enable us to leverage and scale up the contribution to the ethanol blending programme of India for a sustainable future.”
