NSTDA and Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant unveiled Bio Base Asia Pilot Plant (BBAPP), a joint venture to manage the biorefinery pilot plant located in the Biopolis complex of the Eastern Economic Corridor of Innovation (EECi).

Thailand is the world leading producer and exporter of several farm products, including sugarcane, cassava and oil palm. Biorefinery offers enormous opportunity to convert biomass into biochemicals, biomaterials and biofuels.  BBAPP therefore aims to promote innovation for the development of the biobased economy and both NSTDA and Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant will invest their resources, know-how and finances into the operation to achieve this objective.

Prof. Wim Soetaert, Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant Managing Director, stated that BBAPP will operate the first biorefinery pilot facilities in Thailand and ASEAN with a distinct mission to develop and scale-up the production of biobased products utilizing sustainable production processes. The services will range from developing and translating lab scale process into a viable industrial process, to performing technical and financial feasibility study.

NSTDA President Dr. Narong Sirilertworakul added that an MOU between NSTDA and Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant to establish a joint venture BBAPP was reached in November 2019. Dr. Somvong Tragoonrung, BBAP Chairman of the Board, said that the new joint venture brings together the strength of each party. Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant has a wealth of experience and expertise in operating a world-class biorefinery pilot plant in Europe, whereas NSTDA has developed expertise in upstream research, including development of enzymes and enzyme products from biomass available in Thailand, and accumulated connections with alliances and potential clients in Thailand and the ASEAN region.

The Thai government financed an establishment of biorefinery pilot plant at EECi to drive sustainable economic development under the Bio-Circular-Green Economy (BCG) national agenda. The pilot plant consists of a non-GMP and a GMP facility. The non-GMP facility will serve the production of biochemicals, biomaterials and other relevant bioproducts, whereas the GMP facility will focus on applications in food, feed, cosmetics and nutraceuticals. The pilot plant is currently under construction and will be fully operational in 2024.