Ethanol plant in NSW shelved

Plans for an ethanol plant in Riverina, southern New South Wales (NSW) have been put on hold, though its backers say the project is still viable. Local company Marinna Energy’s (ME) planned A$200 million (US$132.14 million) ethanol plant was expected to start producing fuel-grade ethanol early in 2009, but the project was shelved because of the global financial crisis. According to ME, plans will proceed once market conditions improve, which may be soon in light of the NSW government’s 10% mandate on ethanol production starting in mid-2011. (March 11, 2009)