In partnership, Brazilian companies Agrojem and ACP and British company Czarnikow will build Tocantins Bioenergia, the first corn ethanol plant in the state. Construction is scheduled to begin in the second half of 2024; operations are expected to begin in the second half of 2026.
As reported by Globo Rural, in full operation, Tocantins Bioenergia will require around 500 thousand tons of corn per year to produce 220 million liters of ethanol.
Furthermore, 10 thousand tons of vegetable oil and 152 thousand tons of DDG will be generated annually, which will be used by Agrojem as feed for its cattle herd, and also sold with local livestock farmers.
This is Czarnikow's first investment as a partner in an asset in Brazil; however, the British company had previously been selling agricultural products. Initially, the multinational will have a stake of 15% in the new plant – Agrojem and ACP must have 50% and 35%, respectively.
A second phase of the project envisages increasing production at the unit. As a result, demand for corn is expected to double, reaching 1 million tons. Ethanol production is also expected to double, reaching 440 million liters. The goal is to achieve this performance in 2035.
According to the National Corn Ethanol Union (Unem), Brazil is home to 21 corn biofuel plants. These plants are located in different states, such as Mato Grosso, Goiás, Mato Grosso do Sul, Alagoas, São Paulo and Paraná. In addition, nine other plants have projects scheduled to get off the ground.
Source: datagro
