Cargill is investing $150 million in a new plant that produces advanced biofuels from waste and residues, in an effort to further promote circular economy.
The plant will be located at its existing integrated oilseeds crush and Bioro biodiesel site in Ghent, Belgium, and marks the first-of-its-kind for the company.
By using the latest technology of BDI-BioEnergy International, the plant will be able to process all types of liquid waste oils and fat including by-products from food processing, waste from the food industry and non-food crops grown on marginal land.
According to Cargill, the plant will have a biodiesel production capacity of 115,000 metric tons per year, helping to meet global renewable energy demands while protecting natural resources.
“The new Cargill facility in Ghent will be the first plant in Europe capable of processing all kinds of feedstocks, including acid oils from vegetable oil refining, liquid residues from industrial processes, and even the fat recovered from sewage sludge from local municipalities,” said Roger Janson, president of Cargill’s agricultural supply chain across EMEA.
The project will reportedly help customers remove carbon emissions from their supply chains using innovative technology that supports new regulations.
Construction of the biodiesel plant will commence in October 2020 and is due to open in June 2022. Cargill says the facility will create around 20 new direct jobs and an additional 60 indirect jobs in the Ghent community.
“Cargill’s circular economy approach brings added sustainability benefits to not only our customers, but also to the end consumer, as the plant will utilise recycled products that would have previously been disposed of or used for low-value applications,” added Alexis Cazin, managing director at Cargill Biodiesel.
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