TMO Renewables signs with two Chinese firms

TMO Renewables of the United Kingdom announced that it has signed an agreement to develop pilot plants which will produce cellulosic ethanol with the Chinese companies COFCO Ltd. and the China National Offshore Oil Corp. (CNOOC). TMO Executive Hamish Curran, states, “We now look forward to the next phase of our work, engineering bespoke commercial production solutions for both of our partners.” The pilot plants will use a TMO process which utilizes enzymes to break down cassava crop waste in the production of cellulosic ethanol, a second generation biofuel. COFCO and CNOOC have agreed to a technical development process and to purchase the pilot plants if testing is successful. The pilot plants should produce 25,000 to 30,000 tons of cellulosic ethanol annually. As part of the contract, TMO will get royalties from the sale of the ethanol and a fee from the sale of the plants. (May 10,2011)