INEOS Bio JV Awards Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) Contract to AMEC for its World First BioEnergy Center

VERO BEACH, Fla., Nov. 1, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- The EPC contract has been awarded to construct the world's first commercial plant using INEOS Bio's advanced BioEnergy technology, the world's leading feedstock flexible technology for producing advanced biofuels.  INEOS Bio's (www.ineosbio.com) joint venture (INEOS New Planet BioEnergy) has awarded the EPC contract to build its bioenergy facility in Southeast Florida to AMEC (www.amec.com) of Tucker, GA. AMEC will provide engineering and construction expertise to build this first commercial scale facility, valued at over $100 million. The facility will produce eight million gallons (24kta) of third-generation ethanol and six megawatts (gross) of renewable energy annually from renewable biomass including yard wastes and municipal solid waste, wood and vegetative wastes. AMEC was selected following an extensive evaluation process of qualified global EPC firms.

"This is a key milestone in bringing INEOS Bio's advanced Bioenergy technology to the US and global markets to help address the world's waste management challenges," said Peter Williams, CEO of INEOS Bio.  "We offer a sustainable solution for energy independence which breaks the food-for-fuel chain and provides a plentiful supply of renewable bioenergy for new and developed markets," added Williams.  

"INEOS Bio's partnership with AMEC brings us one step closer to opening the state-of-the-art BioEnergy Center in Indian River County, where it will bring both renewable energy and new green jobs," said Mark Niederschulte, COO of INEOS Bio.  "We're confident that AMEC's experience and expertise in the biofuel sector will help INEOS New Planet BioEnergy accomplish a successful and timely completion of the much anticipated BioEnergy Center."

The BioEnergy Center, which will be located in Vero Beach, Florida comes at a time when the region is facing a 16% unemployment rate.  The BioEnergy Center will provide 175 construction jobs as well as 50 full-time green jobs in the Treasure Coast community once the facility is completed.  The project has already received its major permits and approvals from the State of Florida and the U.S. Government.  The Indian River facility is scheduled to begin construction in 4th quarter of 2010 and begin production in 2012.

The heart of the INEOS Bio technology is a patented anaerobic fermentation step, through which naturally occurring bacteria convert gases derived directly from biomass into ethanol. Unlike other technologies that rely on one primary source of feedstock, the INEOS Bio process can produce ethanol and renewable energy from numerous feedstocks, including construction waste and municipal solid waste, forestry and agricultural waste, while breaking the link between food crops and ethanol production. This flexibility allows facilities, like the Florida BioEnergy Center, to be built anywhere in the world, wherever there is waste, providing jobs and locally sourced renewable energy for urban and rural communities. 

Additional Background

About INEOS New Planet BioEnergy

INEOS New Planet BioEnergy is a joint venture between INEOS Bio and New Planet Energy.  In December 2009, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) selected the INEOS Bio JV to receive a $50 million grant to help lay the foundation for full commercial-scale development of the biorefining industry in the United States. This project is part of the ongoing effort to reduce U.S. dependence on foreign oil, spur the creation of the domestic biorefining industry and provide new clean tech jobs throughout the country.  For more information, visit www.inpbioenergy.com.

About INEOS Bio

INEOS Bio is a BioEnergy company working to commercialize and license a highly innovative thermo-chemical and bio-chemical technology for the production of renewable biofuels and renewable energy from a wide range of low-cost carbon materials. The company's initial focus is the commercialization of the world's leading third-generation ethanol technology process to serve the global renewable fuels and the renewable energy markets. INEOS Bio is one of the global businesses in INEOS.  For more information, visit www.ineosbio.com.  

About INEOS

INEOS is the world's fourth largest petrochemical company and a leading manufacturer of commodity chemicals, specialty chemicals, biofuels, and oil products. Comprising 15 businesses, with a production network spanning 51 manufacturing facilities in 13 countries, (15 sites based in North America) the company produces more than 40 million tons of petrochemicals, and 20 million tons per annum of crude oil refined products (fuels). INEOS employs over 3000 people in the United States. For more information, visit www.ineos.com.

About AMEC

AMEC (LSE: AMEC) is a focused supplier of high-value consultancy, engineering and project management services to the world's natural resources, nuclear, clean energy, water and environmental sectors. With annual revenues of over 2.5 billion pounds Sterling (US$3.9 billion), AMEC designs, delivers and maintains strategic and complex assets for its customers.  The company employs some 23,000 people in around 40 countries worldwide.  For more information, visit http://www.amec.com

SOURCE INEOS Bio