In a second contract award so far this year, French technology provider Axens is to supply a license for its Futurol cellulosic ethanol process as well as basic engineering design to Croatian oil and gas company INA.

Located in Sisak, the plant will produce 55,000 t/y, or 70 million liters, of bioethanol. The companies did not give a completion date for the project.

Commercialized by Axens, Futurol technology is an integrated four-step process using enzymatic conversion and fermentation that is based on lignocellulosic feedstock such as agricultural residues and energy crop Miscanthus, also known as elephant grass.

Axens said the technology contract is a major step for the firm as a key player in biofuels and bio-based chemicals production processes, adding that the INA plant will be a “first of its kind”.

INA’s operating director of refining and marketing, Stjepan Nikolić added that the technology selection and contract award for basic engineering design is an “important step towards the final investment decision”.

In January, Axens revealed it had been awarded a licensing contract to supply MTBE, 1-butene and 1-hexene units for the Borouge 4 complex in Ruwais, Abu Dhabi.