TGS Baltic provided full scope legal assistance to Fibenol in development of a commercial-scale biorefinery plant in Latvia to be based on its patented market-ready Sunburst technology. Fibenol’s industrial size biorefinery in Latvia is set to be the world’s first of its kind, marking a historic milestone in sustainable industrial development. Biomaterials produced at the Fibenol biorefinery will also contribute to introducing further innovation along the entire product value chain, creating new opportunities for Latvian industries aiming to move away from fossil-based materials and become more sustainable and transparent.
This project representing a pioneering leap into sustainable industrial development has received support from the EU Research and Innovation Programme Horizon 2020. Total investment in the first demo plant Fibenol developed has now reached around EUR 70 million, of which almost EUR 20 million is the contribution of the European Union.
Biorefining is a type of timber processing that focuses on converting biomass into functional biomaterials such as wood sugars and lignin, offering sustainable alternatives to petroleum products such as phenol, bitumen, and polythene, as well as ensuring raw materials for industrial fermentation processes.
Significance of the project
Fibenol’s industrial size biorefinery in Latvia is set to be the world’s first of its kind, marking a historic milestone in sustainable industrial development. Biomaterials produced at the Fibenol biorefinery will also contribute to introducing further innovation along the entire product value chain, creating new opportunities for Latvian industries aiming to move away from fossil-based materials and become more sustainable and transparent.
TGS Baltic provided full scope legal assistance to Fibenol in development of a commercial-scale biorefinery plant in Latvia to be based on its patented market-ready Sunburst technology.
The project plays a key role in the transition towards a greener and more sustainable economy by offering alternatives to reduce dependence on fossil resources, especially in the chemical and materials industries.
Implementing this project in Latvia provides Fibenol an opportunity to match Latvia’s efforts to develop a knowledge-intensive bioeconomy, one of the priority directions of Latvia’s economy, showcasing a strategic alignment that promises mutual growth and advancement. The project has already been granted the “Green Corridor” status, which means that various administrative issues will be dealt with at an accelerated pace.
Our experts and involvement
TGS Baltic experts provided legal advice on entering the Latvian market, including establishing a subsidiary, assisting in negotiations with Latvian institutions and concluding a Memorandum of Understanding with Latvian government ministries, obtaining priority project status, obtaining building rights at public auction and various regulatory issues.
TGS Baltic team working on the project is led by partner Linda Štrause and includes senior associates Dita Buša, Māra Stabulniece, Kaspars Treilibs, Ance Pavasare.
