Aemetis' Keyes ethanol production facility celebrates first birthday

Industrial biotechnology company Aemetis has celebrated its first year of production at its commercial ethanol facility in Keyes, California.

Operations at the facility commenced in late April 2011, with the company now able to boast an uninterrupted year of production, requiring no days down for repairs. Aemetis took possession of 50-employee strong facility under an agreement with Cilion in March 2010.

The California Energy Commission then awarded Aemetis a $1.88 million (€1.43 million) matching grant for construction and operations of a pre-commercial cellulosic ethanol facility with the aim of developing Company's proprietary advanced ethanol technology.

The Keyes facility produces 55 million gallons of commercial ethanol per year.