Nagpur: French liquor giant Pernod Ricard has formalized its commitment to invest in a malt distillery utilizing barley in Nagpur by signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Maharashtra government on Friday, reported The Times of India.
Envisaged as India’s largest malt distillery, the proposed unit boasts a daily capacity of 60,000 liters, making it not only the largest in Asia among Pernod’s facilities but potentially the continent’s most substantial in the industry.
Pernod officials have outlined plans to invest Rs 1,790 crore in the project over 10 years. The construction of the unit, set to be located at the additional Butibori industrial estate facilitated by the state industries department, is projected to take over two years, with subsequent time allocated for the aging of spirits.
Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis expressed optimism that initiatives like Pernod’s could offer a viable solution to the challenges faced by farmers in light of climate change. Highlighting the versatility of barley as a crop that can withstand various weather conditions, Fadnavis remarked, “Climate change has become common these days. The distillery will be making spirits using barley, which can be grown by the farmers of Vidarbha. Barley crops can withstand rough weather of any kind. Crop grown over as much as 35,000 acres will be needed for the distillery.”
