Danish Novozymes, Brazilian Raizen join forces in cellulosic ethanol production

Sep 19, 2013 - Danish biotech company Novozymes A/S (CPH:NZYM B) yesterday said it and Brazilian sugarcane crusher Raizen Energia S/A entered into co-operation for cellulosic ethanol.

The Danish group will provide enzyme technology for Raizen’s first commercial-scale cellulosic ethanol plant in Brazil. The plant, which will begin operations by the end of 2014, will be a bolt-on facility at the Costa Pinto sugarcane mill in the state of Sao Paulo. Its annual production capacity will be 40 million litres of cellulosic ethanol. The latter will be produced from sugarcane bagasse and straw.

If Raizen builds a second plant, Novozymes will supply the same technology, optimised for the group’s processes, for it too.

The Danish company will also set up a new enzyme production facility in Brazil, whose size, location and investment budget will depend on the demand for enzyme technologies in the country.

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