Chippewa Valley Ethanol Company (CVEC) has gradually been restored to full production, CVEC General Manager Bill Lee told EPM on Dec. 3.

An explosion on Oct. 22 knocked out the company's saccharification tank and destroyed the fuel ethanol loadout. The cause of the explosion is still under investigation, Lee told EPM.

"On November 13, we got about half [of CVEC's ethanol capacity] back up," Lee said. "A week later we were at 90 percent and we're up to 100 percent today."

The plant suffered one casualty in the accident. Robert Olson, an employee of Lundin Construction, was working on the saccharification tank when it exploded. CVEC is sponsoring a Memorial Fund for Olson's family.

Troy Leonard, a CVEC employee, suffered acid burns from the explosion, and he was released from the hospital on Oct. 24. No one else was seriously injured.

Olson was modifying the tank, which was filled with 40,000 gallons of corn mash, so it could be loaded from the top instead of the bottom. The explosion threw the 50-foot tank 75 feet onto a tanker truck filled with ethanol, setting it on fire. Firefighters from 11 surrounding towns helped extinguish the blaze.

"It's been a difficult time for our staff," Lee said. "I'm very pleased to say they are dedicated people that pulled together and made adjustments so we could get operating again."

CVEC is working with alternative loadout systems until its permanent system is rebuilt. Lee said the company is evaluating whether or not to replace the damaged saccharification tank. Many ethanol plants produce ethanol without one.

"It is an adjustment for us," Lee said. "We're hoping to have a permanent loadout system in three to four months."

Delta-T has been on site to help with the reconstruction.