Norway-headed sustainable biochemicals company Circa Group AS has announced that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Thailand’s National PowerSupply Public Co. Ltd (NPS) for the evaluation of sites for Circa’s next stage FC6 plant. FC6 will produce approximately 12,000 tonnes of green solvent Cyrene and the platform chemical levoglucosenone (LGO).
National Power Supply Public Company Limited (NPS) is a Thai producer and a leader in renewable energy. NPS has sites in France in Alizay and in Thailand at the 304 Industrial Park in Prachinburi.
Both of these sites would be suitable for Circa’s future FC6 plant as both sites have large-scale biomass-to-energy plants on site as well as access to biomass feedstock and other utilities. Circa uses sustainable biomass, e.g. sawdust, to produce its green solvent Cyrene.
Alizay in France is the site of NPS’s BEA (Biomasse Energie d’Alizay) power plant. The 304 Industrial Park in Prachinburi, Thailand, is home to NPS associate Double A group, a renowned pulp and paper and renewables company.
NPS is also building Thailand’s largest floating solar reservoir, the company’s biggest reservoir system in Thailand.
NPS deeply appreciates the partnership with Circa as they value sustainability and understand the NPS green energy concept. We hope to build the circular economy together in the center of Thailand’s city of Trees at 304 Industrial Park, said Kritdisorn Kornketkamon, Deputy Director of NPS.
Austria-headed pulp and paper major Lenzing Group has recently opened its largest production facility and bioethanol production facilities on the site.
The MoU will allow detailed work on site suitability, feedstock and operational costs, and access to local support as part of Circa’s process to develop a final investment decision for the Board by late 2024.
This is an exciting milestone in the development of Circa’s vision to build a sustainable low-carbon chemicals business. Discussions with NPS have progressed quickly. We are impressed with their approach and the practical application of low-carbon initiatives that are happening at their sites in Thailand and France, said Tony Duncan, CEO at Circa Group.
