Eco to start up ethanol plant in north China

Chinese renewable diesel producer Eco Environmental is commissioning a 25,000 t/yr ethanol plant at Cangzhou in north China's Hebei province.

ECO will trial cargoes by this year's quarter, after the disruptions of the Beijing Winter Olympics in February, with an eye on exports to Europe.

The plant secured International Sustainability and Carbon Certification certification in December for its corn cobs feedstock, which is listed under Annex IX Part A of the Renewable Energy Directive II as an advanced feedstock in Europe meaning it is double counted towards national transport fuel mandates.

Hebei ECO Biofuel started a biomass comprehensive utilisation project from mid-2020 with total investment of 1.75bn yuan ($276mn). The first phase of this project also includes a 27,000 t/yr furaldehyde plant and other by-products.

ECO has also finalised local authority approval for a 100,000 t/yr expansion of its 250,000 t/yr hydrotreated vegetable oil plant at Zhangjiagang in east China's Jiangsu province. Up to half of the output will be sustainable aviation fuel expected to be available after the lunar new year holidays next month.