Novaol’s biodiesel plant in Italy in jeopardy

In Italy, Novaol’s biodiesel plant in Livorno is at risk of being mothballed because it can’t compete with cheap biodiesel imports. The facility, 60% owned by France’s Diester and originally developed by Bunge but sold to Novaol in 2001, has reduced its production as far as it can without shutting down, to 70,000 metric tons annually from 150,000 tons, but if the import situation isn’t resolved soon it will have no choice to shut. The company also owns Ravenna, located on the Adriatic Sea, which makes it more competitive.