Uhde erecting first combined biodiesel and fatty alcohols complex

Thai Olefins Company and Thai Fatty Alcohols Company have commissioned Uhde in the construction of a plant at Map Ta Phut for the combined production of biodiesel (capacity 200,000 tons) and fatty alcohols (100,000 tons per year). The contract is worth EUR95 million (US$122.81 million). Palm oil will be the main raw material for the plant, but there are plans to also use used vegetable oil. The methyl ester plant is due to be on stream at the end of 2007, while the fatty alcohols plant will be on stream in January 2008. (December 22, 2006)