Be8 starts construction of the Ethanol plant in Passo Fundo (RS), with operation scheduled for 2026

Industrial park to be installed in the city will produce biofuel with cereals, vital gluten and bran in a production model marked by innovation

Be8 announced, on Wednesday (14/08), the start of construction work on the new ethanol plant, the first large in the state, producing biofuel with cereals, and the first production of vital gluten in Brazil. "Today we begin to make a dream come true with this Be8 industrial project in Passo Fundo, which will bring development and opportunity to our region and another green energy solution for the country's energy transition", celebrated Erasmo Carlos Battistella, President of Be8, during monitoring of activities in the construction area.

"I have said that it is not a factory, but a manufacturing park that will house four factories and will produce human food (vital gluten), renewable energy (ethanol) and animal food (bran) with a lot of innovation, which puts Passo Fundo and Rio Grande do Sul in the spotlight in this area," said Battistella.

"The innovative nature of this project represents a new chapter for agribusiness in Rio Grande do Sul, adding value to the entire production chain, with the optimization of the use of our production areas in winter crops, with genetic development of wheat, to meet the demands in food and clean energy markets," said Leandro Luiz Zat, Vice President of Operations.

The beginning of the earthmoving activity moves 1 million and 500 thousand cubic meters of earth, between cutting and landfill, in a total land area of 80 hectares. The constructed area of the new plant will be about 40 hectares, or more than 63 thousand square meters.

"The movement we observed here on the factory site is the result of a long financial strategy that involved financing from the National Bank for Economic and Social Development (BNDES), which approved the amount of R$ 729.7 million for the construction of the factory, making this investment a reality", explained Tulio Abi-Saber, Vice President of Finance.

Ecumenical act

To record the occasion, in addition to businessman Battistella, accompanied by his wife Luciana Azambuja Battistella, and the vice presidents, Counselor Marcos Cittolin, company directors and members of the team leading the project were on the ground inspecting the works. Father Claudir Prestes, from the Catholic Church, and Pastor Silvio Gonçalves Mota, from the Methodist Church, participated in the ecumenical act with all those present, giving a special blessing so that the beginning of the works goes well, under divine protection.

Expected to operate in 2026, the ethanol plant will generate more than 800 jobs during the implementation phase of the project, giving preference to hiring local labor, promoting training and specialized qualification for the maintenance and operation of the unit. Upon completion, approximately 175 direct jobs will be generated in the operation.

Be8 is structuring, with educational institutions, technical training and professional improvement courses, with the objective of developing and training qualified professionals for the new factory and other industrial processes of the company. The company will also prioritize the direct and indirect hiring of companies established in Passo Fundo to make investments. The plant will be flexible for the production of anhydrous ethanol (which can be added to gasoline) or hydrous ethanol (direct consumption) and will have a capacity of 220 million liters.

Parque fabril

Be8 will also offer to the market bran from the processing of cereals, known as DDGS (Distiller's Dried Grains with Solubles), obtained immediately after the fermentation process of ethanol production. This is an important co-product, with great potential for use in animal feed. 155 thousand tons of bran will be produced per year.

The production of vital gluten, a powdered protein concentrate obtained from cereal flour, will also be integrated into the project. Currently, all gluten consumed in Brazil is imported. With this innovative project, Be8 will fully supply the Brazilian market, with the capacity to serve Mercosur as well. The unit will produce 35 thousand tons/year of vital gluten.

"As in the entire history of Be8 in Passo Fundo, the company's growth is directly reflected in gains in the local community and benefits in the development of the regional economy and job creation," said Battistella.

The unit will have self-production of electricity, with cogeneration from biomass and the supply of surplus energy will be made available in the municipality's distribution network. There will be no discharge of liquid effluents, which will be used to produce steam in the production process.

Protocol of intent

In March, the Municipality of Passo Fundo (RS) and Be8 reaffirmed the Protocol of Intentions, based on Incentive Law No. 5,704, of January 23, 2023, linked to the program to promote the municipality's economic development. The document received legislative authorization from the City Council through the approval, on July 19, of Bill No. 47/2024, authored by the Executive.

 

BNDES

The National Bank for Economic and Social Development (BNDES) approved financing in the amount of R$ 729.7 million for the construction of the factory. Of the total, R$ 500 million come from the BNDES More Innovation Program. The adaptation of Be8's investment to the Program was due to the project of having the construction of a pioneering plant for the production of biofuel from raw materials that had not yet been used for this purpose in Brazil, such as wheat and triticale, among others.

Environmental license

In April, Be8 received the Environmental Installation License (LI) from the State Foundation for Environmental Protection, Henrique Luis Roessler (FEPAM), a technical body of the State Environmental Protection System (SISEPRA) of the state of Rio Grande do Sul. Environmental Licensing is the administrative procedure by which the environmental agency licenses the location, installation, expansion and operation of enterprises and activities that use environmental resources, and the release of the Installation License, which allowed the start of the works.

Engineering design

The ethanol plant process, design and engineering license agreement was established with Praj, the most successful Indian company in bio-based technologies, engineering and modularized solutions, with projects around the world. One of the main differentials of Praj's solution is the energy efficiency of the project capable of guaranteeing a quality product at the lowest operating cost, and the experience in cereal-based ethanol production.

Earthwork

The company MATT Construtora is responsible for the earthmoving activities on the land. Headquartered in Vila Maria (RS), the company is part of the MPX Group and provides earthmoving, drainage, asphalt paving, drilling and blasting in rock and bridge construction services. MATT has eight asphalt plants and quarries distributed in Rio Grande Sul and other states.

Be8 Profile

Be8 is a global renewable energy company that implements new energy matrices through a circular innovation ecosystem. With a focus on production that ensures a future with natural resources, the company makes sustainable deliveries for people, businesses and the planet. The Company is part of the ECB Group holding company and was founded in 2005. The company's headquarters are in Passo Fundo (RS) and has administrative offices in São Paulo (SP), Geneva, Switzerland and Dubai, United Arab Emirates, responsible for marketing the production of Passo Fundo (RS), Marialva (PR), La Paloma (Paraguay) and Domdidier (Switzerland).