Binny New Re Energy Limited (BNREL), an upcoming renewable energy company, has been recommended for the grant of its Environmental Clearance (EC) from the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC), Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
“The expert members of the EAC have found the proposal in order and have recommended for grant of environmental clearance. The environmental clearance granted to the project/activity is strictly under the provisions of the EIA Notification 2006 and its amendments”, the EAC Order said.
The company is setting up a 195 KLPD grain-based ethanol manufacturing plant in Thoothukudi district of Tamil Nadu under the National Biofuel Policy 2018. It will also have a five-megawatt (MW) co-generation power plant.
The plant is expected to commence in early 2026.
Today, it has signed the 10-Year Long-Term Offtake Agreement (LTOA) with the OMCs (IOCL,BPCL & HPCL) for the supply of Ethanol at the HPCL office in Chennai today. On the occasion of the signing, senior BNREL officials met the Chairman of HPCL, Pushp Kumar Doshi and G Ramadoss, GM – Supplies & Operations Department South Zone.
Speaking to ChiniMandi on the developments, Mohammed Abdul Salam, Executive Director & Promoter, Binny New Re Energy Limited hailed the proactive role played by the Department of Food and Public Distribution, Government of India (DFPD) in promoting the industry with its Interest Subvention Subsidy Scheme for Greenfield Ethanol projects.
“With Tamil Nadu being a deficit state for ethanol production, the subsidy will be a lifeline and a great incentive for upcoming Industries like ours and hopes that with necessary support and extensions, it will allow the industry to spearhead and thrive at a faster pace for the years going forward” he said.
For its current flagship plant in Tuticorin, the company is selected by the ICAR-Indian Institute of Maize Research (IIMR) Ludhiana, Punjab for its pioneering scheme of “Enhancement of maize production in catchment areas of ethanol industries” which Salam said will be a collaboration to develop catchment areas. They will be working with FPO’s, farmers to develop yields, support in the training of farmers and help address productivity and quality aspects of Maize production and farming.
Salam noted that current national Maize production is at 36 Million tonne and for E20 fuel via maize, there is a requirement for an additional 13-14 Million tonne which he believes this partnership with IIMR will help reach targets.
In the long run, the company has plans to grow the Tuticorin plant to 900 KLPD and beyond in strategic points of Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Odisha. Other verticals of renewable energy such as solar, wind & green hydrogen are also in the future plans for the company.
