GICON signs LOI for biogas test facilities in Mauritius
Engineering service provider signs a Letter of Intent (LOI) to intensify the cooperation together with the University of Mauritius and service provider Sotravic.
The content of the written declaration of intent provides for the construction of a biogas test facility using the two-stage GICON® Biogas Process on the premises of the University of Mauritius. "This is a great opportunity for our university and Mauritius as we endeavour to develop a research-engaged and entrepreneurial University", says the Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof. Dhanjay Jhurry, "we are delighted about this international and scientific bridge, which will help us to research and implement targeted waste treatment in our country through a close partnership with industry and the community". In addition to GICON and the University of Mauritius, the construction company Sotravic from Mauritius is part of the declaration. "We have two partners at our side who have demonstrated top performance in the fields of science and civil engineering", says GICON® founder Prof. Jochen Grossmann, "together we can also strengthen our mutual activities, both nationally and internationally, by signing this agreement and all partners can benefit from one other". The construction of the pilot plant is scheduled for 2020. Pierre Ah Sue, founder and CEO of Sotravic adds: "By combining our expertise, we become successful together - not only in Mauritius but also in Africa.".
ICEECC
The signing of the LOI took place within the 3rd International Conference on Energy, Environment and Climate Change (2 - 4 July 2019) began on Tuesday in Balaclava (Mauritius). GICON®, together with its partner Sotravic, has assumed premium sponsorship of the conference. "For us as a service provider, environmental issues are of paramount importance when it comes to finding the right solutions for our clients. Therefore, it was important for us to support a conference with such a theme in an important partner country", explained GICON® founder Prof. Jochen Grossmann.
GICON® strongly represented in the field of renewable energies for years
GICON® was represented at the three-day conference with two topics and keynote speaker. Biogas expert Mathias Herms gave a presentation on "The GICON® Biogas Process as integrated technology for a sustainable solid waste management concept" in the first keynote session. Herms, who has been planning biogas plants worldwide for 20 years, particularly in the area of waste treatment, says: "In Mauritius, the amount of municipal solid waste has almost doubled in recent years. The current waste concept has to be adjusted, which is why it has to be rethought. With the innovative GICON® Biogas Process, we offer a technology that has proven itself at other locations."
Algae provide the agriculture of the future
Prof. Jochen Grossmann opened the final conference day with a keynote speech. The world's first GICON® Octagon photobioreactor was recently inaugurated in Cottbus in the presence of representatives from politics, industry and research. "For us, microalgae are an essential building block for future security of human nutrition," explains Grossmann. "With the innovative design of the GICON® photobioreactor, with its double-chamber tube, we can cultivate algae all over the world, regardless of the climatic conditions. The advantages of algae are the small spatial requirement, low water consumption and high material content. In view of the advancing climate change, these are important aspects."