EANS-News: AGRANA Beteiligungs-AG
Construction of a CO2 recovery plant at the
AGRANA bioethanol facility in Pischelsdorf (with attachments)
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Contracts
Wien (euro adhoc) - AGRANA and AIR LIQUIDE have today concluded a contract entailing the construction of the latest state-of-the-art CO2 liquefaction plant at AGRANA´s bioethanol facility in Pischelsdorf | Lower Austria. AIR LIQUIDE´s total investment for the plant, which is scheduled to be commissioned in Q1 2012, amounts to around EUR15m.
During the production of bioethanol, some of the carbon dioxide stored in the renewable raw materials (primarily wheat and corn) is released. The planned plant will recover, clean and liquefy over 100,000 tonnes of the biogenic carbon dioxide released from these renewable raw materials. This liquefied CO2 will be available for use in various industrial applications, particularly for carbonated beverages.
"According to a life cycle analysis performed by Joanneum Research, the bioethanol produced at the AGRANA facility in Pischelsdorf accounts for a saving of around 380,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions (particularly CO2) in the Austrian transport sector. The AIR LIQUIDE CO2 recovery plant represents an additional, sustainable improvement in the natural CO2 cycle. The CO2 released during the fermentation of alcohol is prepared for industrial use and replaces CO2 obtained from less sustainable sources," says Johann Marihart, CEO of AGRANA Beteiligungs-AG.
Jean-Luc Robert, General Manager of AIR LIQUIDE Austria Core Central Europe: "We are particularly proud to have concluded this agreement with Agrana one of the leading companies in its domain. This new investment will recover and reuse carbon dioxide from renewable resources while enabling us to develop our presence in the carbon dioxide market and to strengthen our overall positions in this growing region.
About the contractual partners At its bioethanol plant in Pischelsdorf | Lower Austria, AGRANA Bioethanol GmbH annually processes up to 620,000 tonnes of cereals to produce up to 240,000m3 or 190,000 tonnes of bioethanol as well as up to 190,000 tonnes of the high-quality, GMO-free, protein-rich animal feed Actiprot.
In Austria, 5% bioethanol by volume is currently added to petrol in line with the mandatory admixture legislation. The bioethanol is also used in the new and environmentally sensitive fuel SuperEthanol E85, which consists of up to 85% bioethanol, the remainder being petrol.
AGRANA is the leading sugar refiner in Central and Eastern Europe, a major producer of customer-specific starch products in Europe, the largest producer of bioethanol in Austria and Hungary, as well as the global leader in the manufacture of fruit preparations for the dairy industry and an important producer of fruit juice concentrates in Europe. AGRANA´s approximately 8,000 personnel, based at 52 facilities in 25 countries, generated revenues of around EUR2bn in its 2009|10 financial year.
AIR LIQUIDE is the world leader in gases for industry, health and the environment, and is present in over 75 countries with 42,300 employees.
AIR LIQUIDE AUSTRIA GmbH employs about 300 people and is a leading company on the Austrian gas market. Present in all Austrian regions, AIR LIQUIDE supplies a wide range of industries such as food & beverages, healthcare, chemicals, automotive, energy, metallurgy, mining and metal fabrication.
This press release is available for download in German and English at www.agrana.com.
Attachments with Announcement:
---------------------------------------------- http://resources.euroadhoc.com/us/grEFm9rM Pictures with Announcement: ---------------------------------------------- http://resources.euroadhoc.com/us/0KbjaCxb
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Further inquiry note:
Investor Realtions:
Mag. Hannes Haider
Tel.: 01-21137-12905
hannes.haider@agrana.com
Public Relations:
Mag. Ulrike Pichler
Tel.: 01-21137-12084
ulrike.pichler@agrana.com
Branche: Food
ISIN: AT0000603709
WKN: 779535
Index: WBI, ATX Prime
Börsen: Berlin / Präsenzhandel
Frankfurt / Präsenzhandel
Stuttgart / Präsenzhandel
Wien / official market
Original content of: AGRANA Beteiligungs-AG, transmitted by news aktuell