Saipol, a subsidiary of French rapeseed biodiesel (RME) supplier Groupe Avril, said it now owns 100pc of the Centre Grains oilseed and grain terminal in France after buying out French agriculture and food co-operative Axereal and other minority shareholders.
The terminal in Sete, souteast France stores rapeseed for crushing, protein-rich oilseed cake for export, and sunflower hulls used by the biomass boiler that supplies energy to the site. It includes two quays — big enough for two barges and a Panamax ship — and two loading and unloading bays.
The terminal processes an inflow of around 600,000 t/yr of rapeseed and can store up to 17,000t of oilseed in sheds.
The acquisition will support Saipol's rapeseed crushing and biofuels production activities in Sete. The company currently sells around 250,000 t/yr of mainly biodiesel and pre-treated oils.
The purchase is part of the company's plan to make "Sete a pillar of our development in favour of the decarbonisation of fossil fuels and the supply of proteins, particularly for export", said managing director Christophe Beaunoir.
