February 16, 2025 – Indian Sugar Giant BCML Announces PLA Plant Expansion and Appoints Industry Veteran as Chemicals Business President
Indian sugar industry titan Balrampur Chini Mills (BCML) has recently unveiled plans to construct a 75,000-tonne per annum polylactic acid (PLA) plant in Uttar Pradesh. With ambitions to scale up, the company aims to increase capacity to 80,000 tonnes per year by 2025, with commercial production slated for 2026. To bolster leadership in this new venture, BCML appointed Stefan Barot as President of its chemicals business in March this year, entrusting him with the expansion of the PLA division.
Stefan Barot is a seasoned expert in the field of biopolymers, boasting over 13 years of industry experience spanning seven countries. He has deep roots in Asia and the Middle East, where he has worked for over 14 years, in addition to more than two decades of experience in Europe. A graduate of the International Institute for Management Development (IMD) in Lausanne, Switzerland, with an EMBA degree, Barot’s chemical background is a strong asset. Prior to joining BCML, he served as CEO of German company Biotec, where he not only successfully established a business development department but also developed five new products and secured several new patents within just three years. He optimized organizational efficiency, achieved business scalability, and fostered a corporate culture of risk-taking and innovation.
According to AsiaMB’s industry insights, Barot’s contributions to the bioplastics sector extend beyond his previous roles. He served as President of the European Bioplastics Association (EUBP) from 2022 to 2023. Skilled at analyzing complex situations, he excels at devising customer-centric customized processes, nurturing efficient teams, and facilitating clear communication to drive effective action. Passionate about demonstrating the societal benefits of biopolymers, he is committed to exploring practical solutions with minimal environmental impact, aiming to unite stakeholders in protecting nature and creating sustainable living standards for future generations.
Previously, Barot held positions at Purac Bio-chemicals in the Netherlands, Corbion, and TotalEnergies Corbion, where he served as Global Director of PLA Business, overseeing operations in both global and Asia-Pacific markets. He successfully brokered multiple multi-million-dollar collaboration projects, tripling the annual value of a key product to $4 million and expanding the customer base. Furthermore, he championed sustainability initiatives, developing value chains for sustainable bioplastic solutions and collaborating closely with stakeholders to jointly explore the bioplastics market.