Maire Tecnimont Group, global leader in the transformation of natural resources with a strong commitment to industrializing green chemistry and circular economy, today inaugurated a bio-waste recycling pilot plant at the National Institute of Technology Karnataka (NITK) campus in Surathkal. The project has been funded by its Indian subsidiary, Tecnimont Private Limited (TCMPL) as a fundamental part of the Group’s efforts in Corporate Social Responsibility and a further step in green energy development.

Guests of Honour, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, addressed the event through a video message and Dr. G Santhosh Kumar, KAS, Joint Commissioner (Administration) was present in person.

During the event, Maire Tecnimont Group further announced that through its engineering excellence centre, TCMPL, it has signed an interdisciplinary centre for research “Maire Tecnimont Centre for Research on Waste Recycling and Circular Economy”, to enforce its commitment to high-level research for the energy transition also leveraging on the Group’s distinctive competencies and expertise by tutoring the trainees in their development and empowerment paths. Maire Tecnimont will also provide scholarships to 16 students from 2021-22 onwards for their research and their pioneering work in the field of energy transition and green chemistry. The company already sponsored two scholarships during 2020-2021 at NITK.

The biogas pilot plant is dedicated to promoting research and improving energy self-sufficiency within the campus. This biogas plant will enable NITK to generate energy by converting food and vegetable waste from the hostel blocks and canteens through anaerobic digestion. 

In March 2020, Maire Tecnimont announced its support for developing the biogas project at NITK. The funds committed were exclusively utilised by the NITK towards building this pilot project plant. It is estimated that a 500 kg GPS Renewables’ (waste-to-energy technology company providing waste management solutions) biogas digester is expected to generate 35,400 units of electricity equivalent in a year. The project will save Rs 2.42 lakhs annually if biogas replaces the commercial cylinder for cooking purposes. The high-quality digestate, completely natural and free from harmful synthetic chemicals, can be used as an organic fertilizer, as a supplement, or even as a replacement of chemical fertilizers. GPS Renewables will also perform the plant maintenance for three years. 

Fabrizio Di Amato, Maire Tecnimont Chairman, commented: “We are honoured to further strengthen the collaboration with such a prestigious institute as NITK to foster new skilled professionals and entrepreneurs in the field of green chemistry and circular economy in order to accelerate the energy transition in India. We at Maire Tecnimont strongly believe in giving back to society and empowering aspirations in education which is one of the key pillars of our sustainability strategy. India is our second home, and we are improving our efforts through partnerships and agreements with public and private players.”

Speaking about the project, Professor Karanam Umamaheshwar Rao, Director of NITK said, “We are elated by the support of Maire Tecnimont towards promoting green energy within our campus. As it is said that actions speak louder than words, their gesture of installing biowaste recycling energy pilot plant will not only inspire students, who will be tomorrow’s entrepreneurs, to think about and experience the immense potential of green energy but more importantly will set an example for other corporates to lead the change. Maire Tecnimont Research Scholarship for Sustainable Development will give much-needed support to students. On this occasion, my special thanks to the NITK 1981 alumni batch for facilitating this project.” 

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