Hawaii
Energy Policy Forum > 2003
Articles
Australia Biodiesel Plant Opening
http://ww2.green-trust.org:8383/AUBioPlant.pdf
Biodiesel Industries announced today the opening of its
newest facility in
New South Wales, Australia. The 40 million liter per year
facility was dedicated by Ian Macfarland, Australia's Minister
of Industry, Tourism and Resources, yesterday in front an
audience over fifty dignitaries representing local government,
environmental organizations, and the petroleum industry.
The plant is the first of its kind in Australia,
and will produce a cleaner burning renewable fuel made from
vegetable oils, animal fats and recycled cooking oils.
"I think it is a great innovation," Mr. Macfarland
Said. "It will have a positive effect on the environment
and, of course, it will generate local employment."
The dedication ceremony was covered extensively by the Australia
media, including national radio, television, and front page
news articles. "We are extremely pleased with the reception
we have received in Australia. This joint venture with our
Australian partners, will be part of a global network of
biodiesel production facilities, dedicated to producing biodiesel
inexpensively from local resources, using local talent, and
helping to clean up the local environment," explained
Russell Teall, president of Biodiesel Industries. "Many
companies talk about their plans for building biodiesel production
capacity, we're actually doing it."
The new plant is located in Rutherford, about two hours
north of Sydney near
Newcastle, and will be managed by Rutherford native Andrew
Hill. Mr. Hill's family has been involved in the petroleum
distribution business for many years, and saw the opportunity
for incorporating an environmentally friendly alternative
to diesel fuel in their product portfolio. After several
visits to Biodiesel Industries' plant in Las Vegas, and conducting
an investigation of other production technologies, Mr. Hill
settled on Biodiesel Industries' modular production system.
Once permits were
in place, the construction and commissioning of the facility
took less than three months.
The City of Newcastle began promoting biodiesel last year
when it purchased a VW Kombi and started using biodiesel
imported from Biodiesel Industries' Las Vegas facility. The
project
was the subject
of numerous media reports, and helped pave the way for legislation
favorable to biodiesel use. As in the US, the attraction
of biodiesel derives from both environmental and national
energy security concerns.
Andrew Hill commented that, "Because biodiesel is renewable
and domestically produced it will help ensure national energy
security by replacing fuel products with Australian made,
environmentally friendly, alternative fuels."
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