LANXESS India, the subsidiary of German specialty chemicals company LANXESS AG, has started up the production of a state-of-the-art co-generation power plant at its manufacturing site in Nagda, Madhya Pradesh on 21st October 2010. The cogeneration plant, which is fuelled by the biomass fuel - soya husk, will meet virtually most of the power requirements of the Advanced Industrial Intermediates plant of LANXESS at the site.

With an investment of EUR seven million in the pioneering plant, LANXESS has clearly raised the bar for sustainable development in India. By utilizing a renewable source of energy, LANXESS will significantly reduce its carbon footprint by 70,000 metric tons of coal per year and thus reduce about 95,000 tons of CO2 emissions per year. In comparison, the combustion of biomass as a fuel is carbon neutral for the environment.

This plant is another example of LANXESS’ commitment to green chemistry and sustainable development. The German specialty chemicals company is using innovative and climate-friendly technologies at its manufacturing sites worldwide and has reduced its direct greenhouse gas emissions by more then 50 percent globally. From 2007 to 2009, annual emissions from the group’s plants were cut from 3.5 million to 1.5 million metric tons of CO2 equivalents.