Bringing Renewable Fuel Production to Pakistan with Sustainable Biomass Refining Solutions
VIRGINIA CITY, Nev., Dec. 30, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Comstock Inc. (NYSE: LODE) ("Comstock” and the "Company”) today announced the execution of a binding agreement between Comstock Fuels Corporation ("Comstock Fuels”) and Gresham's Eastern (Pvt) Ltd ("Gresham's”), a leading sustainable energy engineering, equipment and construction company based in Pakistan, under which Comstock Fuels agreed to grant Gresham's exclusive project and site development rights in Pakistan to enable Gresham's to deploy Comstock Fuels' proprietary and patented lignocellulosic biomass refining technologies to produce sustainable aviation fuel ("SAF”) and other renewable fuels in Pakistan.
Global Market Impact
Gresham's will develop an initial demonstration facility in Lahore, Pakistan, capable of processing 75,000 metric tons of biomass annually. This facility is designed to generate the prerequisite operational and economic data for scaling up to a 1,000,000 metric tons per year commercial facility, aligning with rapid global market demand for increased SAF production, thereby positioning Pakistan as an emerging leader in the renewable fuels sector. Gresham's plans on utilizing abundant, locally available agricultural and forestry residuals, as well as sustainably grown energy crops, unlocking billions of dollars in export potential, becoming a leading contributor of Pakistan's commitment to producing 60% renewable energy by 2030.
Mian Suhall Husain, CEO of Gresham's, commented, "This partnership exemplifies Gresham's commitment to deploying both quality systems and cutting-edge technologies for truly sustainable energy solutions in Pakistan. We are on the doorstep of a globally significant opportunity where our combined competencies can create wealth for nations and communities alike.”
Under the agreement, Gresham's will lead the development, financing, construction, and management of renewable fuel production facilities based on Comstock Fuels' proprietary Bioleum refining technologies. Each Bioleum Refinery will operate under a site-specific license agreement to ensure compliance with Comstock Fuels' performance and quality standards. Comstock Fuels will contribute site specific technology rights in exchange for a 20% equity stake in each Bioleum Refinery, plus a royalty fee equal to 6% of each refinery's sales of licensed products, and engineering fees equal to 6% of total capital and construction costs.
The inclusion of cellulosic ethanol production using Comstock Fuels' advanced lignocellulosic refining process adds significant value to Pakistan's existing renewable energy sector, where most of the domestically produced ethanol is exported. This process positions the partnership to capitalize on the country's widely available agricultural residue biomass, currently representing over 100 million metric tons annually, enabling a sustainable, societal and economically impactful use for these resources. That amount of feedstock has the potential to yield upwards of 14 billion gallons of renewable fuels per year at Comstock Fuels' proven yields exceeding about 140 gallons per dry metric ton of biomass (on a gasoline gallon equivalent basis, or "GGE”).
Wide Open Market Hidden in Plain Sight
Pakistan's abundance of renewable biomass resources provides an ideal foundation for developing a robust renewable fuel production ecosystem. The Gresham's projects will prioritize fulfilling regional demand while targeting export markets across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). The combination of Gresham's engineering, equipment fabrication, construction and extensive quality-systems operating and supply chain network, positions for strong market leadership.
"Mian's extraordinary track record and commitment to both quality systems and societal impact align perfectly with Comstock's mission and approach,” stated David Winsness, President of Comstock Fuels. "Gresham has positioned itself as a leading integrator in Pakistan's economic development and sustainable energy goals. We believe this partnership will be transformative to Pakistan's leadership in SAF and renewable fuel production and showcases the quality and speed of the global adoption of our industry-leading solution. We are excited to get started in Lahore and well beyond.”
About Gresham's Eastern (Pvt) Ltd.
For the better part of six decades, Gresham's name has been synonymous with Quality and Innovation. Today, Pakistan-based Gresham's is a premier project developer, engineering, equipment fabricator and construction company focused on deploying technology-leading, sustainable energy solutions and initiatives across Pakistan. To learn more, visit www.gel1947.com.
About Comstock Fuels Corporation
Comstock Fuels delivers advanced lignocellulosic biomass refining solutions that set industry benchmarks for production of cellulosic ethanol, gasoline, renewable diesel, sustainable aviation fuel ("SAF”), and other renewable fuels, with extremely low carbon intensity scores of 15 and market-leading yields of up to 140 gallons per dry metric ton of feedstock (on a gasoline gallon equivalent basis, or "GGE”), depending on feedstock, lignin content, site conditions, and other process parameters. Comstock Fuels plans to directly build, own, and operate a network of Bioleum Refineries in the U.S. to refine 50 million tons of biomass annually into 8 billion gallons of renewable fuel by 2035, corresponding to 50% of the U.S. renewable fuel mandate. Comstock Fuels is currently evaluating several U.S. sites for construction of its Demonstration Scale Facility to validate its fully integrated process at 75,000 tons per year, paving the way for rapid full-scale commercialization. Comstock Fuels also licenses its advanced refining solutions to third parties for additional production in the U.S. and global markets, including several recently announced and other pending projects. To learn more, please visit www.comstockfuels.com.
About Comstock Inc.
Comstock Inc. (NYSE: LODE) innovates and commercializes technologies that are deployable across entire industries to contribute to global decarbonization and the clean energy transition by efficiently extracting and converting under-utilized natural resources, such as waste and other forms of woody biomass into renewable fuels, and end-of-life electronics into recovered electrification metals. Comstock's innovations group is also developing and using artificial intelligence technologies for advanced materials development and mineral discovery for sustainable mining. To learn more, please visit www.comstock.inc.
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Contacts
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Some of those risks and uncertainties include the risk factors set forth in our filings with the SEC and the following: adverse effects of climate changes or natural disasters; adverse effects of global or regional pandemic disease spread or other crises; global economic and capital market uncertainties; the speculative nature of gold or mineral exploration, and lithium, nickel and cobalt recycling, including risks of diminishing quantities or grades of qualified resources; operational or technical difficulties in connection with exploration, metal recycling, processing or mining activities; costs, hazards and uncertainties associated with precious and other metal based activities, including environmentally friendly and economically enhancing clean mining and processing technologies, precious metal exploration, resource development, economic feasibility assessment and cash generating mineral production; costs, hazards and uncertainties associated with metal recycling, processing or mining activities; contests over our title to properties; potential dilution to our stockholders from our stock issuances, recapitalization and balance sheet restructuring activities; potential inability to comply with applicable government regulations or law; adoption of or changes in legislation or regulations adversely affecting our businesses; permitting constraints or delays; challenges to, or potential inability to, achieve the benefits of business opportunities that may be presented to, or pursued by, us, including those involving battery technology and efficacy, quantum computing and generative artificial intelligence supported advanced materials development, development of cellulosic technology in bio-fuels and related material production; commercialization of cellulosic technology in bio-fuels and generative artificial intelligence development services; ability to successfully identify, finance, complete and integrate acquisitions, joint ventures, strategic alliances, business combinations, asset sales, and investments that we may be party to in the future; changes in the United States or other monetary or fiscal policies or regulations; interruptions in our production capabilities due to capital constraints; equipment failures; fluctuation of prices for gold or certain other commodities (such as silver, zinc, lithium, nickel, cobalt, cyanide, water, diesel, gasoline and alternative fuels and electricity); changes in generally accepted accounting principles; adverse effects of war, mass shooting, terrorism and geopolitical events; potential inability to implement our business strategies; potential inability to grow revenues; potential inability to attract and retain key personnel; interruptions in delivery of critical supplies, equipment and raw materials due to credit or other limitations imposed by vendors; assertion of claims, lawsuits and proceedings against us; potential inability to satisfy debt and lease obligations; potential inability to maintain an effective system of internal controls over financial reporting; potential inability or failure to timely file periodic reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission; potential inability to list our securities on any securities exchange or market or maintain the listing of our securities; and work stoppages or other labor difficulties. 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