POET to suspend operations at Macon, Missouri plant; install upgrades
In Missouri, POET announced that its Macon plant will temporarily suspend plant operations effective Feb. 1 due primarily to a lack of available local corn. All of the plant’s 44 team members will remain employed at their current hours. Many will assist in installation of the approximately $14.5 million in upgrades to the plant that will occur during the down time.
The plant will also continue to purchase corn for future use as it is available. There is currently no timeline for resuming production. Macon, which started operation in 2000, is located in one of the worst-hit areas of last season’s drought, leaving it unable to source corn locally or bring corn in from other areas at a competitive price.
The plant is in the early stages of construction on a number of upgrades that will improve profitability further once production resumes. Those include: Voilà™ corn oil technology; full BPX technology, POET’s patented “no-cook” process that significantly reduces heat/energy use; a new control system; and a new, more efficient evaporator.
Category: Fuels
