Last Updated: Tuesday 29th of June 2010 02:31:00 AM -0600MDTA Bolingbrook-based startup plans to build the world's largest biorefinery in Asia.
Elevance Renewable Sciences Inc. said Monday it's partnering with Singapore-based manufacturer Wilmar International Ltd. to build a biorefinery in Indonesia that will make chemicals, such as detergents, from palm, mustard, soybean or waste oils.
The facility will be built at an existing Wilmar plant in Surabaya, Indonesia. It also can be used for other fuels, such as diesel or jet fuel.
"This is the first large commercial-scale biorefinery, and it will be the largest biorefinery to have been built," says Elevance CEO K'Lynne Johnson.
Construction begins this summer, and the plant is expected to be running in about a year. Ms. Johnson declined to say how much the plant will cost or detail Wilmar's investment.
It's the second biorefinery that Elevance is working on.
The company is pursuing a pilot project in Newton, Iowa, that is being funded by a $2.5-million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy. The Indonesia plant will be a full-size chemical refinery.
Elevance, founded in 2007, was spun out of Minnesota-based agriculture giant Cargill Inc. and backed by private-equity firm TPG. The company employs about 60 people.
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