The Münzer Group is also investing in biogas and is said to be willing to add more to fuels.
Ewald Münzer is known by some as a deceased folk music legend, who performed with the “Ligister Trio” in the very first Musikantenstadl. He also founded a company that now produces 220 million liters of biodiesel annually. The family-owned East Styria is one of the largest producers of waste-based fuel.
No “fresh” agricultural raw materials are used for the fuel, but remnants of rapeseed oil, etc., which are collected in the Lobau, among other places. Restaurants such as McDonalds, the Gasthaus Plachutta or household delivery. In Mumbai, India, hotels are the main suppliers of cooking oil.
Because there is also demand abroad for the expertise of the Styrian biodiesel pioneers. The company collects waste oil in India, Bangladesh and Kenya. “There is also a health risk here,” emphasizes Michael Münzer. Because old grease clogs not only sewage treatment plants but also heart vessels – the Indian government therefore prefers to have it processed into biodiesel than to use it several times.
Whether in Lobau or Mumbai: the factories convert frying oil into diesel. Glycerin is also produced, which is sold at high prices and is used for cosmetics and pharmaceuticals, and alcohol is useful for the fertilizer industry. The diesel, the core product, is added for 7 percent to conventional fuel. “But 10 percent would be easily possible, we have the capacity,” says Ewald-Marco Munzer. The government has written the increase in the program, but little is happening here.
At the moment, however, the demand for biodiesel is also high for passenger cars. Münzer has a worldwide turnover of 430 million euros. “Half a billion is definitely a medium-term goal,” says Ewald-Marco Munzer. In the future, they also want to use gas from leftover diesel production. Michael Münzer: “We are investing 40 million euros in a biogas plant.” Construction in Pillichsdorf (Lower Austria) is currently being delayed due to a possible approval process. At Munzer, they are ready for construction at any time.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
