Sumatec to build bio-ethanol plant in Thailand

Malysia-based Sumatec Resources Bhd’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Sumatec Corp. Sdn Bhd and its Thai partner, EC Chemical Bio Co. Ltd., have been awarded a 254.16 million ringgit (US$70.6 million) contract to construct a bio-ethanol plant in Thailand. The consortium will be responsible for the engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning of the 500,000 liter per day (lpd) capacity bio-ethanol plant complete with biogas plant, organic fertilizer plant and chip making unit at Prachinburi. The company said it expectsthat the plant, which would use cassava chips as feedstock, would be completed in 20 months. The contract is expected to contribute positively to the overall earnings and shareholders value of Sumatec for the financial years on end-December 2009 and 2010. (April 1, 2009)