Chesapeake Green Fuels puts biodiesel plant up for auction

US biodiesel producer Chesapeake Green Fuels has put its ten million gallon per year biodiesel facility up for auction, according to Maas Companies, which will sell off the plant.

Built in 2006-2007 by Mid-Atlantic Biodiesel, the Chesapeake Green Fuels facility had an initial capacity of five million gallons per year of biodiesel. Capacity at the plant was doubled in 2009 by Chesapeake, with the addition of multi-feedstock pre-treatment systems, including bleaching filtration, glycerolysis and methyl ester distillation.

According to a statement from Maas Companies, the plant assets are being sold off as they are ‘surplus’ to Chesapeake’s other businesses.

The plant is strategically located in Delaware, US near eastern markets, terminals and key distribution routes. The equipment is to be sold as one package, which will either remain on location or be moved, depending on the purchaser.

The land on which the facility is situated is available via a long-term lease with Norfolk Southern Company, which can be assumed or negotiated. A rail spur services the site, with high capacity loading and unloading.

“This auction offers a great opportunity for a new owner in the renewable or like industry or a local buyer with a regional business interest,” said Tyler Maas, director of sales and marketing for Maas Companies. “Dover is 15 miles to the South, Annapolis 60 miles to the northeast and Washington, D.C is only 100 miles away. The six-acre property has 335,400 gallons of tank storage on rail siding, plus a 6,944 square foot production building, 3,000 square foot shop building, along with a modular office. The property currently has an income producing tenant in place.”