Aventine to reopen Aurora East ethanol plant

In the US, ethanol company Aventine Renewable Energy Holdings is looking to commence operations at its defunct ethanol plant in Aurora East, Nebraska.

The plant has been idle since April 2011 but could be up and running again soon, as the company has completed improvements to the fermentation process.

'Our operational focus is to implement identified changes to bring the Mount Vernon plant closer to full capacity,' says John Castle, executive vice president, COO and CFO of Aventine Renewable Energy.

'Resolving new plant production issues will help us move forward with the start-up of the Aurora West facility, an identical twin of the Mount Vernon facility. We are also working through the mechanical systems of the Canton, Illinois, US facility in preparation of starting that plant later in the year.'