The Komi Republic in northern Russia could host a plant that would produce 100,000 tonnes of bioethanol per year from wood waste.
The proposal, coming from Egregor Biotech and Evolution Group, was presented last week, Komiinform news agency reported. Over RUB 15 million (USD 196,000/EUR 177,000) have already been spent on the project. The total investment required is estimated at EUR 136 million (USD 151m). A process to create a pool of investors is underway, with different options for the realisation of the project being considered, including a public private partnership.
Under the plans, the facility would process up to 400,000 tonnes per year of non-food feedstock such as unusable timber and sawmill residues.    
The Komi Republic has rich forest resources. The local authorities have proposed a site of 6.3 ha (15.6 acres) for the construction of the plant.