Missouri's largest biodiesel plant is expected to start-up within a month. A ceremonial grand opening celebration was held last week for Mid-America Biofuels LLC, and the plant is in the final run-up to production, according to General Manager Cliff Smith.

"It's going well," Smith said. "We always want to be further along, but things have gone well as we've moved forward."

The 30 MMgy biodiesel facility is partly owned by Archer Daniels Midland Co. (ADM). It's the agri-business company's first U.S. biodiesel project. More than 400 farmers are also invested in the plant, which is located adjacent to an ADM soybean crushing facility. The project will use soy oil as its primary feedstock.

Mid-America Biofuels is a joint venture of Biofuels LLC, a farmer-owned biodiesel business based in Jefferson City, Mo., Ray-Carroll County Grain Growers, MFA Oil Co. and ADM.

ADM acted as general contractor on the project, according to Smith. ADM is also building an 85 MMgy biodiesel plant in Velva, N.D. that is expected to begin production next spring. The company operates several biodiesel facilities in Europe.

Minneapolis-based Crown Iron Works provided the process design for the Mexico plant. The project began construction in October 2005.

U.S. Rep Ken Hulshof, Gov. Matt Blunt and U.S. Sens Kit Bond and Jim Talent attended the grand opening. "Missouri has a wonderful group of legislators who recognize the importance of renewable fuels," said Dale Ludwig, executive director of the Missouri Soybean Association. "They've helped make the (Mid-America Biofuels) dream become a reality."

Missouri's next large biodiesel project, Prairie Pride Inc., is beginning initial dirt work near Nevada, Mo. The 30 MMgy project held a ceremonial groundbreaking in August.

What is expected to be the state's largest biodiesel plant is nearing the start of construction in Kansas City. Paseo Cargill Energy is moving ahead on a 40 MMgy project built adjacent to a Cargill soybean processing facility. The plant will be jointly owned by Cargill and Paseo Biofuels LLC, a group composed of Missouri soybean farmers and the Missouri Soybean Association.

There are several other biodiesel projects under development in the state, according to the Missouri Soybean Association.

Mid-America Biofuels LLC
Location: Mexico, Missouri
Design/builder: Crown Iron Works/Archer Daniels Midland Co.
Capacity: 30 MMgy
Feedstock: soy oil
Biodiesel marketer: Mid-America Biofuels LLC
Start of construction: October 2005
Start-up date: November 2006

Dave Nilles is Online Editor for Biodiesel Magazine. Reach him at dnilles@bbibiofuels.com or (701) 373-0636.

Posted: 4:05 p.m. CST Tuesday, October 31, 2006