SK Chemicals triples capacity at Korean biodiesel plant; eyes US, Europe

In Korea, SK Chemicals said that it has tripled capacity at its Ulsan biodiesel plant to 120,000 metric tons per year, and has signed a 60,000 metric ton offtake agreement with Trafigura Beheer, which will distribute the fuel in Europe.

SK said that it intends to expend its network of plants to the US and Europe, and said that it will concentrate its focus on green industries, leaving petrochemicals to producers who are closer to oil-based feedstocks in the Middle East.

South Korea update

In June, the Thai energy ministry said that it has inked an agreement with the Korea Institute of Petroleum Management for data and technology exchanges. One of the aims of the agreement is to provide Thai expertise in support of South Korea’s development of its biofuels industry.

South Korea has committed to a 5 percent ethanol mandate commencing in 2010 and a three percent biodiesel mandate in 2012.

Metta Buntherngsuk, director-general of the Thai Department of Energy Business, told the Bangkok Post that “we are the leader in alternative fuels such as ethanol, biogas, biomass and we have a huge surplus output. The co-development with others will help absorb the surplus.”

Earlier this month,  Zarai Taraqiati Bank announced that it is coordinating a jatropha R&D partnership between South Korea and Pakistan. Jatropha trees have been planted in the Balochistan, Sindh and Punjab deserts in conjunction with the project.

In addition, South Korean researchers are cooperating with Indonesia on the development of biodiesel from seaweed, while the Malaysian Ambassador to South Korea said that he is working to establish a research partnership between the two countries for palm oil biodiesel R&D, noting the advanced Korean technologies and that 41 percent of global oil palm supplies are grown in Malaysia.

Free Subscription to the Daily Biofuels Digest e-newsletter

Related Stories

Two South Korean firms to invest $167 million in Philippine jatropha biodiesel and sugarcane ethanol

The Philippine Agricultural Development and Commercial Corporation, an arm of the Department of Agriculture,m announced two investment by South Korean firms in Philippine biofuels totaling $167 millio...

Indonesian ministry partners with Korean Institute for biofuels from seaweed

In Indonesia, the Ministry of Fishery and Marine Resources announced a partnership with the Korea Institute of Industrial Technology to produce biofuels from seaweed. The Korean Institute developed th...

Zimbabwe’s Reserve Bank, Korean investors, to build multi-feedstock biodiesel plant

In Zimbabwe, the Reserve Bank and a group of Korean investors announced a multi-feedstock biodiesel plant. The facility will utilize sunflower, jatropha, cotton seed and soya. Plant capacity and compl...

Bio Base Europe launches as largest development center for biofuels and bioproducts

In Belgium and the Netherlands, Bio Base Europe launched this week, a joint initiative of Biopark Terneuzen and Ghent Bio-Energy Valley that will transform the Gent-Terneuzen Canal Zone into a develop...

Tata Chemicals to build 3 Mgy sweet sorghum plant in Maharashtra, India

In India, Tata Chemicals will establish a sweet sorghum-based ethanol plant in Nanded, Maharashtra with an initial capacity of 3 Mgy....

Sustainable Power to acquire Angel Eyes Produce; will provide biomass-to-power for hydroponic food producer

In Texas, biocrude pioneer Sustainable Power announced that it will partner with Sustainable Produce to acquire Angel Eyes Produce of Massena, NY. Sustainable Power will produce electricity from bi...