Editor 
Finnish biorefining company Chempolis, Indian oil refinery Numaligarh Refinery Ltd. (NRL) and Finnish semi-public utility Fortum have formed a joint venture for developing a biorefinery in Assam, as Biomass Magazine reported. The facility will use 300,000 tons of bamboo per year to produce ethanol, furfural, acetic acid and biocoal, which will be used to fire a CHP plant. Construction works will begin this autumn and the plant is expected to become operational by 2020. NRL will hold a 50% stake of the joint venture, while Fortum is to own 28% and Chempolis 22%. The plant is part of Fortum’s Bio2x research and development programme, under which Fortum investigates biomass-based end products that can replace fossil raw materials.
Picture Credit: Seal of Assam, public domain
