US firm acquires Northumberland biodiesel plant

Kentucky-based Four Rivers BioEnergy Inc. has acquired a biodiesel plant and other assets from V-Fuels Biodiesel Limited of Blyth, Northumberland.

“We are delighted to have reached this agreement,” said Gary Hudson, President and CEO of Four Rivers. “The assets acquired match our acquisition criteria very well. In particular we have acquired a complete, currently dormant, but previously operational biodiesel plant, that is differentiated in terms of technology, location and logistics and which we believe will shortly be fully and commercially operational and offers plenty of scope for expansion.”

Hudson added, “We were also attracted by the ability to expand the existing business, use the excellent logistics of the site and local infrastructure and apply proven technology from other industries.”

“The acquisition of the plant by Four Rivers brings together two groups of people with a desire to successfully develop the green energy market across the USA and Europe and with the expertise and vision to successfully develop other green business opportunities,” said Dan Cross, Managing Director of V-Fuels Biodiesel.

The Blyth plant, with a production capacity of about 120,000 tonnes of biodiesel, is one of the largest biodiesel manufacturing plants in Europe. The site has the potential to be expanded to a capacity of up to 1 million tonnes of biodiesel per year.