Enerkem announces first commercial-scale biofuels and biochemicals plant is entering star...( Major milestone achieved bringing E...)

    Major milestone achieved bringing Enerkem one step closer to becoming the
    first producer of biofuels and biochemicals to commercially use waste
    feedstock

MONTREAL, Jan. 12 /PRNewswire/ - Enerkem Inc., a leading advanced biofuels and biochemicals technology company, announced today that its first commercial-scale plant located in Westbury, Quebec, is entering the start-up phase with the production of its clean conditioned synthesis gas.

Construction on the plant began in October 2007 and the facility was mechanically complete in December 2008. The conditioned synthesis gas ("syngas") island has been finalized and is in an advanced commissioning stage in preparation for its upcoming start-up. The premium syngas island serves as the chemical production platform, from which the methanol and ethanol production modules will be added progressively over the next months. Once these gas-to-liquid modules are bolted to the syngas island, Enerkem will become the first producer of liquid fuels and green chemicals to commercially use renewable, non-food, negative-cost feedstock.

"The conditioned synthesis gas island is the core of our technology platform as it is where we produce a clean tailored syngas that serves as a chemical source for the production of advanced biofuels and biochemicals," said Mr. Vincent Chornet, President and Chief Executive Officer of Enerkem. "We have followed a rigorous path to commercialization since the beginning of our pilot plant back in 2003 and we intend to apply the same disciplined approach at Westbury. The first step is our premium syngas which leads to our goal of becoming a world leader in the production of second-generation transportation fuels and green chemicals."

The company's Westbury plant will be the world's first ethanol plant to use negative-cost and unconventional materials - treated wood from used electricity poles. It is operated by a team of 13 people and will,
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