Raizen breaks ground on Iogen cellulosic ethanol facility in Brazil

[Bill USA]

http://www.ethanolproducer.com/articles/10505/raizen-breaks-ground-on-iogen-facility-in-brazil

Iogen Corp. announced Nov. 28 that Brazilian ethanol giant Raízen Energia Participacoes S/A, has started construction of a commercial biomass-to-ethanol facility using Iogen Energy`s (a joint venture between Raízen and Iogen Corporation) advanced cellulosic biofuel technology.

The $100 million plant, to be located adjacent to Raízen’s Costa Pinto sugar cane mill in Piracicaba, São Paulo, will produce 40 million liters (10 MMgy) of cellulosic ethanol a year from sugarcane bagasse and straw. Plant start-up is anticipated in the fourth quarter of 2014.

Iogen will provide cellulosic ethanol related process technology, process designs and start-up and operational services to Raizen through their jointly owned Iogen Energy affiliate. Iogen Energy, the original owner of the technology, has granted comprehensive licenses to both Raizen and Iogen Corp.

“This announcement is just the beginning of our partnership with Iogen,” says Vasco Dias, CEO of Raízen. “We believe Iogen has the most robust, well proven, and competitive technology platform in the cellulosic ethanol business and, after this first facility is complete, we plan to combine Iogen’s cellulosic ethanol with seven more of our sugar cane production operations. We see tremendous potential for this technology in meeting the world’s growing demand for cleaner and more sustainable fuels, and we anticipate a long and profitable future.”
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Iogen signs deal to build biomass-to-ethanol plant in Brazil
http://www.ottawacitizen.com/technology/Iogen+signs+deal+build+biomass+ethanol+plant+Brazil/9224884/story.html

The company announced Thursday that Raízen Energia Participacoes S/A has signed a deal to license its world leading biomass-to-ethanol technology, which converts biomass-waste like corn stalk and straw into ethanol that can used to fuel vehicles. The technology will be used in a $100-million plant which is already under construction adjacent to Raízen’s Costa Pinto sugar cane mill in Piracicaba, São Paulo.

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“We believe Iogen has the most robust, well proven, and competitive technology platform in the cellulosic ethanol business and, after this first facility is complete, we plan to combine Iogen’s cellulosic ethanol with seven more of our sugar cane production operations,” said Vasco Dias, CEO of Raízen. “We see tremendous potential for this technology in meeting the world’s growing demand for cleaner and more sustainable fuels, and we anticipate a long and profitable future.”

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The company secured a $10-million loan in 1999 from Technology Partnerships Canada, thanks to keen interest in clean energy from the Government of Canada. The federal government has traditionally been the largest purchaser of Iogen’s ethanol. The government uses the locally produced fuel to fill the tanks of its vehicles, some of which run on mixtures as high as 85 per cent ethanol.

Iogen has also received investments from Royal Dutch Shell, which first gave funds to the firm in 2002 and agreed to help the company commercialize its technology. Other investors include Goldman Sachs & Co., which invested $30 million in 2006, Volkswagen, which poured $10 million into the company in 2007 and Petro-Canada which has invested more than $15.8 million in the firm since 1997.
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