Manufacturer of low-carbon polylactic acid (PLA) biopolymers made from renewable resources NatureWorks has obtained final authorization from parent companies for its planned new Ingeo PLA manufacturing complex in Thailand.
The parent companies, GC International Corporation Co. Ltd. and Cargill Inc. both view the upcoming project as an important milestone for the biochemical sector.
The new manufacturing complex is to be located at the Nakhon Sawan Biocomplex (NBC) in Nakhon Sawan Province with USD600 million investments from NatureWorks. The construction will start in the second quarter of 2022 with an opening scheduled for 2024.
The upcoming facility will have an annual capacity of 75,000 tons of Ingeo biopolymer and produce the full portfolio of Ingeo grades. It will include production sites for lactic acid, lactide, and polymer, making it the world’s first PLA facility designed to be fully integrated.
Jacobs has been selected for the new manufacturing site and will now complete the final detailed engineering for the project while IAG, has been chosen for engineering and construction, providing project management, project controls, and procurement services.
