EcoCeres to invest in new HVO/SAF plant in Johor

Asia-based advanced biorefinery platform EcoCeres is set to invest in a new hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO)/ sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production plant in Malaysia.

The 350,000 tonnes/ year facility in Pasir Gudang, Johor, would serve as a major production hub for HVO, SAF and also bio-naphtha, the company said on 4 June.

EcoCeres said used cooking oil (UCO) and wastewater from palm oil mills (pictured) would be used as feedstocks.

“The facility, to be managed by Malaysian subsidiary EcoCeres Renewable Fuels Sdn Bhd, will leverage EcoCeres’ proprietary technologies to convert low-value feedstocks into high-value sustainable fuels and chemicals,” EcoCeres co-founder and CEO Philip Siu said.

“It is also a pivotal milestone in our global expansion journey.”

The project was a partnership between EcoCeres, the Johor government and local communities, the firm said. According to its website, EcoCeres processes biomass wastes into biofuels and biopolymers. In addition to producing HVO and SAF at commercial scale, the company produces cellulosic ethanol.

UK’s Edible Oils invests in Erith and Belvedere sites

Leading UK packaged oils supplier Edible Oils Limited (EOL) has completed an investment programme at its Erith and Belvedere sites in London.

The latest project followed the completion of a £24M (US$31.4M) project at EOL’s Erith site last June, which increased overall production capacity by around 50%.

A 50/50 joint venture between UK food and drink group Princes Ltd and global agribusiness giant Archer Daniels Midland (ADM), EOL produces packaged oils for the retail sector, supplying both branded and customer own brand bottled oils and white fats to the UK and mainland European markets.

The Erith site, which supplies over 100M litres/year of oil, bottles the Crisp ‘n’ Dry, Flora and Mazola brands and also packs rapeseed, sunflower and corn oils for customer own brands.

It forms the hub of EOL’s cooking oil production and is integrated with the nearby refinery complex.

As part of the investment programme at the Belvedere site, four new 60,000 litre oil tanks were installed. The increased storage capacity would enable EOL to offer new products, such as bespoke blends, the company said on 13 July. At the company’s Erith site, the investment programme involved a major upgrade of the company’s employee welfare facilities.