Abengoa plant resumes operations

After almost two years since operations ceased at biofuels producer Abengoa Bioenergy’s ethanol plant in Portales, New Mexico in the US, the facility has now restarted.

The plant has a 27 million gallon a year output capacity, producing ethanol from sorghum and milo. Located just 20 miles from the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway, California and Texas are the facility’s key markets.

And after sitting idle for so long, why did Abengoa decide to resume operations? Greg Fisher, executive director of the Roosevelt County Community Development Corp. says that it was down to the extension of the Volumetric Ethanol Excise Tax Credit.

He explains: ‘Why shouldn’t we pay a penny or two to ensure that our fuels come from American soil versus the alternatives that are not under our control?’

47 people now work at the plant, which was restarted on 12 January. Abengoa has rehired 40% of its staff that were made redundant before the closure.

Image source: Abengoa Bioenergy