KATZEN International, Inc. announced Monday it has been selected to provide process technology for a major wheat-based ethanol facility in southern Brazil, scheduled to begin operations in late 2026.
The U.S. bioethanol technology firm will supply engineering design and proprietary technology for the second phase of Be8 S.A.'s plant in Rio Grande do Sul state, which will process 525,000 tons of winter cereals annually.
The facility will produce 210 million liters of ethanol, 153,000 tons of distiller’s dried grains and 27,000 tons of vital gluten. Currently, Rio Grande do Sul imports all its ethanol from other Brazilian states.
“This partnership demonstrates our ongoing commitment to innovative solutions for grain-based biofuels for the Brazilian and global markets,” said Dave Lococo, CEO of KATZEN.
The plant will help reduce Brazil’s approximately $40 million in annual gluten imports, primarily from Europe, according to the Brazilian Wheat Industry Association.
“We are moving forward with the ethanol plant project by bringing together strategic partners that will enable us to achieve our development and innovation goals,” said Erasmo Carlos Battistella, president of Be8.
The project is expected to create more than 1,000 jobs during construction and 175 permanent positions.
