Web exclusive posted June 24, 2008 at 3:46 p.m. CST

German biodiesel producer Petrotec AG has announced the start of production at its facility in Emden, Germany. The 30 MMgy plant, located in Emden's seaport, is accompanied by a refinery, storage tanks, a laboratory, and a load/unload unit for both inland and oceangoing vessels.

The location of Petrotec's facility allows the company some logistical and economic benefits. It's linked directly by pipeline to a loading bridge on the pier, allowing easy transport of product to both oceangoing and inland vessels. Exports can easily be made to Great Britain, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and Scandinavia. Also, used cooking oil from international markets can be unloaded at the site and processed directly into biodiesel.

Petrotec currently operates a biodiesel production facility in Borken, Germany. Together, the two facilities bring Petrotec's annual production capacity to approximately 55 million gallons. The company has been producing biodiesel since 2000 and takes pride in the fact that it has always focused on used cooking oils as its primary feedstock. Petrotec Chief Executive Officer Roger Böing said that biodiesel produced from waste products such as used cooking oil is the most environmentally friendly fuel available. "According to the European Commission, our biodiesel cuts [carbon dioxide] emissions by 77 percent," he said. "In view of the finite supplies of fossil fuels and rapidly increasing fuel prices, sustainably produced biodiesel is a real alternative. Biodiesel made in Emden will make a valuable contribution to this."

Böing also expressed his dissatisfaction with the German government's decision to not subsidize the production of biofuels from waste products. "The government talks about increasing food prices and talks a lot about relieving the burden on consumers, but only subsidizes biofuels that are produced using agricultural raw materials [that] consequently compete with food production," he said.