US-based global agribusiness Cargill has revealed its plans to come up with a $90m biodiesel plant in Kansas that will be capable of producing 60 million gallons of biodiesel annually.
The biodiesel plant to be built in Wichita is expected to boost the company’s biodiesel operations in the heart of the Midwest. It is aimed to open in January 2019 to complement Cargill's existing biodiesel plants in Iowa Falls, Iowa, and Kansas City, Missouri.
Cargill Agricultural Supply Chain business biodiesel commercial leader Pat Woerner said: “This new facility will enable Wichita to be a competitive supplier in the biofuels market, bringing value to the suppliers and customers we work with, and connecting farmers with industrial customers by supplying quality biomass-based diesel.
“Biofuels are good for the U.S. farm economy and can bring capital investment to agriculture while boosting economic development in farm communities.”
Cargill’s new 42,000ft2 Wichita biodiesel facility will break ground in December. It will create nearly 35 full-time roles for its operations.
The biodiesel plant will be built adjacent to the company’s oilseed processing plant. It will come in the place of an existing oil refinery operated by Cargill's Global Edible Oil division.
Cargill Agricultural Supply Chain business oilseed managing director Warren Feather said: “We are excited to bring this new facility to our farmers and customers in Wichita.
“At Cargill, we're prepared to handle demand for biofuels while balancing it against the need to nourish a growing global population.”
Cargill provides biofuels to a range of renewable resources like corn, sugar cane, soybeans, palm oil, and biogas.
The company produces biodiesel in the US, European Union (EU) and Argentina. Its ethanol production is currently carried out in the US, EU and Brazil.
Cargill calls itself as an integrated producer that handles the entire supply chain right from sourcing to production to delivery unlike other biodiesel traders.