The construction of pea protein factory in Jelgava has started
At the end of last year, the construction site of the pea protein factory was opened in Jelgava, where active construction works have already started. The total cost is estimated at 150 million euros.
The construction of the “ASNS Ingredient” factory is planned to be completed at the end of 2026, and it will be the world’s most modern and second largest pea protein production plant. Edgars Ruža, the board member of “ASNS Ingredient” states that the project is technologically complex and faced many challenges during its development, but now the next phase of the project has started. “Almost 10-hectare territory where the new factory will be located in Jelgava on Prohorova Street has been handed over to the builder – SIA “Bukoteks”, which has already started construction work. We plan that the factory will be able to reach maximum capacity at the end of 2027, but initially the company will have to conquer the market, which will be a gradual process, and we have set aside about two years for this. It should be noted that the production process of pea isolate is technologically very complex and investment-intensive, therefore, in addition to the construction of the factory, the external partners of “ASNS Ingredient” will also develop heat and energy supply, water treatment and biogas production, which will be offered on the market as external services. Thus, the total investment in the project will reach more than 150 million euros,” notes E.Ruža.
The new factory will process 70,000 tonnes of peas per year and produce pea protein isolate, starch, protein concentrate and fiber. Peas, which will be the basic raw material used in production, are planned to be purchased from Latvian farmers, and the produced products are planned to be exported all over the world. “We can already see that there is a great demand for this type of products, because in many parts of the world there is a lack of opportunities to procure food in sufficient quantities, so it is urgent to produce substitutes for specific products. These products can be used in the food, medical and agricultural sectors, creating additional opportunities for innovation,” emphasizes E.Ruža.
In the end of last year several cooperation partners of the project participated in the opening event of the construction site of the new factory – Jelgava City Council Chairman Andris Rāviņš, Chairman of the Board of the Cooperative Society “Latraps” Valters Bruss, Chairman of the Board of the Financial Institution “ALTUM” Reinis Bērziņš, Director of the Latvian Investment and Development Agency (LIAA) Ieva Jāgere and Minister for Economics Viktors Valainis, who admitted that this project will completely change the agricultural culture in Zemgale. “Currently, the project has the largest state support. It will help us to develop organic agriculture, and it will have huge added value for our agricultural projects,” noted V. Valainis.
I.Jāgere also spoke highly of this project at the opening event of the factory construction site. “The “ASNS Ingredient” factory is one of the largest investment projects in Latvia in recent years. The new pea protein isolate factory will be the largest in Northern Europe and with its technological solutions will also be one of the most modern in the world, ensuring high efficiency and productivity. The development of such high value-added production plants is one of the main priorities of LIAA, both in terms of investment attraction and export promotion,” emphasized I.Jāgere.
The first buildings of the factory are planned to be completed already in May of this year, and the equipment ordered in Europe and America will also be delivered at this time.
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