Be8 begins construction of ethanol plant in Passo Fundo in Brazil

Be8 has begun the construction of its new ethanol plant - the first large-scale facility in the state producing biofuel from cereals and the first vital gluten production plant in Brazil.
“Today, we begin turning a dream into reality with this new industrial venture by Be8 in Passo Fundo, which will bring development and opportunities to our region and provide another green energy solution for the country’s energy transition,” said Erasmo Carlos Battistella, president of Be8.
“I often say that this is not just a factory but an industrial complex that will house four factories and produce human food (vital gluten), renewable energy (ethanol), and animal feed (bran) with a high level of innovation, putting Passo Fundo and Rio Grande do Sul in the spotlight in this sector.”
“The innovative nature of this project represents a new chapter for agriculture in Rio Grande do Sul, adding value to the entire production chain, with the optimisation of the use of our productive areas for winter crops, and advancing the genetic development of wheat to meet the demands in both the food and clean energy markets,” said Leandro Luiz Zat, vice-president of operations.
The initial earthmoving activities involve the movement of 1.5 million cubic meters of soil, including cutting and filling, across a total land area of 80 hectares. The constructed area of the new plant will cover around 40 hectares, or over 63,000 square meters.
Scheduled to start operations in 2026, the ethanol plant will generate more than 800 jobs during the implementation phase of the project. Upon completion, approximately 175 direct jobs will be created for the plant’s operation.
The contract for process licensing, plant design, and engineering was awarded to Praj, India’s leading company in bio-based technologies, engineering, and modular solutions, with projects worldwide.
One of the key differentiators of Praj’s solution is the energy efficiency of the project, ensuring a high-quality product at the lowest operational cost, along with extensive experience in cereal-based ethanol production.