Aemetis plant expands biodiesel sales to retail fuel stations in India

In California, Aemetis, Inc. said that its Universal Biofuels subsidiary has built distribution tanks and other infrastructure to begin sales of biodiesel to retail fuel stations from the Kakinada, India biodiesel plant.

Recently, the Aemetis plant in India completed installation of a pre-treatment unit to process lower-cost and waste feedstock into oil; expand boiler and other utility capacities; and implement environmental systems.  The upgrades enable full production of 50 million gallons per year of biodiesel and bio-oil by simultaneous operation of the biodiesel, pretreatment and glycerin refining units.

Retail biodiesel customers in India include agricultural uses in tractors and stationery power units, as well as diesel trucks, buses, taxis and cars.  After extensive engine testing, the India government approved the use of 100% biodiesel to replace diesel, so retail biodiesel customers in India are able to purchase a cleaner, lower cost, domestically produced, renewable biofuel to displace imported diesel.

In late 2018, the India Supreme Court issued a decision that allowed the retail sale of biodiesel in India for the first time.