Swedish biodiesel producer acquires Norway plant

Swedish biodiesel producer acquires Norway plant

Swedish specialty chemical company and biodiesel producer Perstorp announced it is acquiring a biodiesel plant in Fredrikstad, Norway, with plans to move the assets to Perstorp’s biodiesel manufacturing facility in Stenungsund, Sweden.

Lars Lind, vice president of biofuels with Perstorp, says the company has ambitious growth plans for biofuels. “We see how the demand will increase to meet the global climate challenges,” Lind said. “In order to grow with the market, we need to secure more production capacity and, with the Norwegian facility, we can combine Perstorp’s unique expertise with existing equipment. With the new facility, we can almost double our current production capacity.”

Perstorp distributes its branded, rapeseed oil-based biodiesel in low-level blends called RME-Perstorp BXN, in addition to ready-to-use B100 under the Verdis Polaris-Flora name and biomethanol-blended B100 called Verdis Polaris-Aura. The company says acquisition of the Fredrikstad assets will allow Perstorp’s customers in the Swedish market to grow with Verdis Polaris, and it will also be able to support the market in Norway, where environmental awareness is increasing and tougher legislation is coming.

The plant in Fredrikstad produces biodiesel from rapeseed oil just like Perstorp’s current biofuel plant in Stenungsund, Sweden. “This acquisition will also add flexibility, allowing [further product development] both from a winter performance point of view, and by facilitating introduction of other, noncrop-based raw materials,” the company stated.

The company anticipates the newly acquired assets to be operational at its Stenungsund site by the end of the year.

Biodiesel Plantation Services International