Problematic biodiesel plant to reopen in 2015

A previously bankrupt $52.5 million (€38 million) biodiesel plant in Beatrice, Nebraska, will begin production again by summer 2015.

Duonix, a joint venture between Wichita, Kansas-based Flint Hills Resources and Irving, Texas-based Benefuel, has begun assessing the preparation needed to install Benefuel's patented production process at the plant.

The company announced the joint venture with Benefuel in May 2013.

Benefuel's production process will use materials that include by-products from ethanol plants and used vegetable oils to manufacture 50 MMgy of biodiesel.

'Benefuel's goal has always been to improve the profitability of biodiesel by reducing the operating costs to produce it,' says Rob Tripp, CEO of Benefuel. 'For more than six years, we have worked to develop a product we believe will improve the profitability of biodiesel, slow resource consumption and cut waste.'

Flint Hills, which operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of Koch Industries, purchased the facility for $5 million after it fell into bankruptcy in September 2008.