Mission Biofuel plans new plant

Australia’s Mission Biofuel Ltd. plans to build a new 250,000 ton per year biodiesel plant. The plant would be constructed next to the firm’s existing 100,000 ton-per-year project at Kuantan Port, Malaysia. The smaller plant is expected to be in commercial production by August this year. To reduce its dependence on crude palm oil, Mission Biofuel will acquire about 17,000 acres of planted jatropha trees in India. This would allow the firm to secure between 30-50% of its initial feedstock requirements. Palm oil, the main biodiesel feedstock in Southeast Asia, costs around US$556 per ton while jatropha would cost about US$457 per ton. (January 30, 2007)