Evonik celebrates laying of the foundation stone for Biolys® plant in Russia

• Construction of the Biolys® plant in Volgodonsk is making progress
• Annual production capacity of around 100,000 metric tons starting from early 2015

Essen, Germany-based Evonik Industries is progressing according to plan with the extension of its core business of amino acids for animal feed. Today in Volgodonsk (Rostov region, Russia) the foundation stone for the new Biolys® plant was laid in the presence of the Governor of the Rostov region, Evonik representatives, customers, and partners. It will be constructed by the joint venture OOO DonBioTech, which belongs to the Russian Varshavsky Group and Evonik as a minority shareholder.

The new plant will come on stream in 2015 and have an annual capacity for Biolys® of around 100,000 metric tons. Biolys® is a highly efficient source of the amino acid L-lysine and is used as a feed additive in modern animal nutrition. Production in Volgodonsk is based on Evonik’s fermentation technology. Wheat from the Rostov region will be used as a raw material, which the joint venture will process itself.

"With the recently completed production expansion in Blair (USA), the construction of a new plant in Castro (Brazil), and the plant in Volgodonsk, we’ll have an annual production capacity of 500,000 metric tons of Biolys® from 2015," said Evonik Executive Board member Patrik Wohlhauser. "This will strengthen our leading position in the production of feed-grade amino acids, which are an important part of our growth strategy."

The Governor of the Rostov region, Vasily Golubev, emphasized the advantages of the site and the collaboration. "The new site will benefit many people—including future employees and meat consumers in our country," he concluded.

Dr. Reiner Beste, Head of the Health & Nutrition Business Unit at Evonik, was very pleased with the local support and the building progress: "We’re making good progress and are confident that, from 2015, Volgodonsk will make an important contribution to efficient and sustainable meat production in Russia."

Evonik is the only company worldwide to produce and market all four essential amino acids for advanced animal nutrition: Biolys® (L-lysine source), MetAMINO® (DL-methionine), ThreAMINO® (L-threonine), and TrypAMINO® (L-tryptophan). The Group delivers its innovative service and products to more than 100 countries.