Wilmar to operate first aviation biofuel plant in Indonesia

Wilmar Indonesia, the country’s biggest palm oil producer, announced plans to produce palm oil-derived aviation biofuel in its plant in Gresik, East Java. The company has earmarked an investment of around US$80 million for the expansion of the plant, and will work with Elevance Renewable Sciences, through its subsidiary, PT Wilmar Nabati Indonesia. Wilmar’s biorefinery has been in operation for more than a year and the company expects the plant to produce 500 tons of biofuels a day through December 2012. Wilmar said that the plant will produce 80% biofuel and the remaining 20% will be bio-olefin. (April 12, 2012)