SEKAB’s cellulosic ethanol pilot to shut down in Sweden: finance woes

In Sweden, Sekab’s cellulosic ethanol plant in Örnsköldsvik that has been operating since 2004 will shut down due to a lack of funding. The project is short $2.9 million for 2012. Up until now, the facility has been operating thanks to funds from the European Union and from the Swedish Energy Agency, as well as Sekab.

The efforts to find external financing and occupancy will continue parallel to the ending of the operational commitment. The estimation is that if no solution is found, the operations of the Ethanol Pilot will come to a halt following the first quarter of 2012. The decision solely concerns the operational responsibility for the operations in EPAB’s Ethanol Pilot and will have no impact on SEKABs other operations.