The plant will be built in the Hochst industrial park, about 30km from the company’s oilseed crush plant in Mainz. More than 200,000 tonnes of fuel will be produced at the plant each year, creating fifteen new jobs.

Construction is expected to begin toward the end of 2005 with production commencing in August 2006. The plant will turn vegetable oils into biodiesel.

“For some time we have felt that this region is ideally suited for the production and supply of biodiesel – both in terms of its geographical location and in the availability of raw materials such as rapeseed oil and other vegetable oils which can be supplied via the Rhine,” said Jack Van den Hoek, manager of Cargill’s biodiesel and biomass operations in Europe.

The move follows previous announcements that Cargill would expand capacity at its other oilseed crushing plants in Germany to allow the company to maintain vegetable oil supplies to food customers while meeting growing demand for biodiesel.

This venture is in addition to Cargill’s other biodiesel project in Germany – a joint venture with Agravis Raiffeisen AG in Wittenberge.

Cargill has also begun discussions in Belgium with local companies to explore future possibilities in the biodiesel market.

David Hopkins

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