Nakhon Sawan Bio Complex (NBC), Thailand's first biochemical complex, will start its first-phase operation within the first quarter as Global Green Chemicals Plc (GGC), a biochemical arm of PTT Global Chemical Plc, is scheduled to open its factories soon.
GGC, which started construction of 7.5-billion-baht facilities in October 2019, will operate the factories through its subsidiary, GGC KTIS Bio Industrial Co (GKBI), a joint venture with Kaset Thai International Sugar Corporation Plc (KTIS).
This project will be a major economic driver, putting Thailand on the fast track of bio-economic development, according to GGC vice-president Wanlapa Sophiskhaunkhant.
Bio-economy, which promotes the use of renewable resources as raw materials to produce energy, food and other value-added products, will be a new source of revenue.
The NBC's first-phase development includes a sugar-cane crushing unit with a daily capacity of 24,000 tonnes; an ethanol production plant with a daily capacity of 600,000 litres; a biomass power plant with 85 megawatts of capacity; and steam generation of 475 tonnes per hour.
Located in Takhli district, NBC occupies a 2,000-rai plot adjacent to KTIS's sugar mill and a sugar-cane cultivation area.
Ms Wanlapa said the second-phase development will focus on the manufacture of degradable plastic, cosmetics, fragrance, personal care products and animal feed.
GGC is also operating facilities to produce methyl ester at 500 kilo tonnes per annum (KTA), fatty acid at 100 KTA and refined glycerin at 51 KTA.