February 4, 2009
Novozymes to partner China firms to develop non-grain ethanol
China's Sinopec Group and COFCO Limited has signed a framework agreement with Denmark's enzyme producer Novozymes to jointly develop non-grain ethanol.
The joint programme aims to commercialise ethanol production from corn stalks in 2010, covering the whole industry chain of fuel ethanol including production and sales.
COFCO has been operating a 500-tonne per year pilot facility of cellulosic ethanol since 2006 in Northeast China's Heilongjiang Province in cooperation with Novozymes China.
Novozymes could become the first enzyme supplier for commercialised biofuel producer in 2010, according to Steen Riisgaard, CEO of Novozymes.
Sinopec Group is expected to distribute the cellulosic ethanol from corn stalks in its near 30,000 service stations across China.
