New Delhi, Sep 24 Sugar firm Balrampur Chini Mills Ltd has received a Rs 75 crore grant from the Centre to set up a pilot research facility for bio-plastic poly lactic acid (PLA) and co-polymer products in Uttar Pradesh.
The company will set up the research and development (R&D) plant at Kumbhi, Uttar Pradesh, with a total capacity of 100 tonnes per annum. The facility will be established at a total cost of Rs 110 crore.
Balrampur Chini said that the Rs 75 crore grant has been provided by the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) under the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Government of India.
The company will establish a 100 tonnes per annum PLA Co-Polymer R&D facility under the Government’s flagship BioE3 (Biotechnology for Economy, Environment & Employment) initiative.
The grant will accelerate the development of advanced bio-based materials, strengthening India’s indigenous biomanufacturing capabilities.
At an event here, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology Jitendra Singh said the proposed plant will lead to the development of PLA and co-polymer products, contributing to the transition towards sustainable manufacturing.
He emphasised the need to convert waste into wealth. Singh also stressed on creating mass awareness about such products.
The pilot-scale R&D facility will be established at BCML’s integrated manufacturing complex in Kumbhi, Uttar Pradesh, where the company is also setting up India’s first integrated commercial PLA manufacturing facility with a capacity of 80,000 tonnes per annum. The total investment for this PLA plant is around Rs 3,000 crore.
The new facility will serve as the innovation engine for developing next-generation PLA grades and co-polymers, enabling rapid product development, technology indigenisation, customer validation and seamless scale-up to commercial production.
Avantika Saraogi, Executive Director, Balrampur Chini Mills, said, “The Government of India’s support through this Rs 75 crore BioE3 grant is a strong endorsement of the strategic role that advanced biomanufacturing will play in India’s future. This facility will help build indigenous technology, develop next-generation bio-based materials and create the scientific and technical capabilities required for India to lead the global transition towards sustainable manufacturing.”
The company presently has ten sugar factories located in Uttar Pradesh (India) having an aggregate sugarcane crushing capacity of 80,000 tonnes per day.
(PTI News)
