A renewable fuel company has received financial backing to complete the engineering plans needed for a new biodiesel refinery in Sarnia.
Benefuel has been operating a demonstration plant in Nebraska the past two year and is now ready to build another plant, CEO Rob Tripp said last week.
“Benefuel is excited to develop its first commercial refinery in Sarnia,” he said.
The Texas-based company has developed a patented process that turns fats and oils from food and agricultural waste into low-carbon diesel fuels, as well as biodegradable lubricants and fuel additives.
The project received an undisclosed amount of money from Bioindustrial Innovation Canada, the Sarnia-based not-for-profit that uses government funding to help commercialize sustainable chemistry projects.
“Ontario is committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions from its transportation fuel pool,” said BIC executive director Sandy Marshall.
“We recognize the need for low-carbon transportation fuels and Benefuel provides an important step forward to meet these goals.”