Praj Industries Limited (Praj) has announced that they have entered into an MoU with Egyptian Sugar and Integrated Industries Company (ESIIC) of Egypt on the eve of  COP27. As a part of this MoU, both parties will drive sustainable climate actions to combat evils of climate change.

India's most accomplished industrial biotech company Praj and Egypt's largest sugar sector company ESIIC have come together to set up 1st and 2nd Generation ethanol projects in Egypt. Praj and ESIIC will develop infrastructure, help formulate policy framework, and create awareness etc. to mainstream Bioeconomy. Sugarcane bagasse and rice straw are envisaged to be feedstock for conceiving Egypt's first 2nd Generation ethanol project.

Low carbon ethanol produced from these 2G ethanol plants will be supplied as feedstock for production of specialty chemical. This sustainable biochemical will reduce dependency on the chemicals derived from fossil route. Bioethanol supplied as chemical intermediate is based on circular bioeconomy principle that will reduce GHG emissions by recycling of carbon.

This MoU is seen as one of the important developments at a time when calls for phasing out fossilbased resources and transition to renewable alternatives, are gathering momentum during ongoing COP 27 summit.

Welcoming this collaboration, General Essam El- Din EI-Bedewy, Chairman & Managing Director of ESIIC said, "We are very happy to join hands with Praj, a global leader industrial biotech. We believe this partnership will help Egypt scale greater heights in bioeconomy. We endeavor to adopt to renewable alternatives to achieve carbon neutrality. Praj's expertise in 2G ethanol space will definitely benefit Egypt."

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Pramod Chaudhari, Founder Chairman, Praj Industries, said, "We are delighted to partner with ESIIC who are exploring use of ethanol beyond transportation application. To combat evils of climate change, harnessing cleaner greener technologies is an imperative as sustainable climate action. I am confident that, this partnership for furthering bioeconomy will accelerate energy transition as well as give boost to journey towards carbon neutrality."