Suncor completes Canada ethanol expansion project

25 March 2011 17:14  [Source: ICIS news]

TORONTO (ICIS)--Suncor has completed a major ethanol expansion at its site near the Sarnia petrochemicals hub in southern Ontario, doubling plant capacity there to 400m litres/year, the Canadian energy and chemicals firm said on Friday.

Suncor’s plant, the largest of its kind in Canada, would be its platform to further develop the biofuels business, said Jim Provias, vice president of renewable energy.

The expansion cost Canadian dollar (C$) 120m ($122m).

Overall, Suncor’s Sarnia ethanol plant, which opened in 2006 with a capacity of 200m litres/year, now employs 63 full-time workers.

Gordon Quaiattini, head of biofuels trade group Canadian Renewable Fuels Association, said Suncor’s investment supported the industry’s strategy to develop home-grown renewable fuels.

Canada has a 5% federal blending mandate for ethanol in gasoline. Parliament is expected to enact a 2% renewable fuels bending standard for biodiesel in coming months.

($1 = C$0.98)

Check out Doris de Guzman’s Green Chemicals blog for views on sustainability issues

By: Stefan Baumgarten
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