Argentine cooperative to invest $53 million in corn-based ethanol expansion project

In Argentina, the ethanol arm of the Asociación de Cooperativas Argentinas is set to invest $53 million to expand its production capacity to 700 million liters annually using corn starch as feedstock. The original facility inaugurated seven years ago following a $150 million investment had an installed production capacity of 153 million liters annually of anhydrous ethanol. The first stage of the expansion will be complete next year but the total expansion will put the facility beyond its capacity to supply its own energy and will require 20% of its energy demand from outside sources.