Virtually all major Plant modifications have been made and the new processes have been started up & commissioned. We have produced approximately 440,000 gallons of soybean oil-based biodiesel (using both crude & refined soybean oil); and, we have commissioned all new processes and made approximately 230,000 gallons of Corn Stillage Oil (CSO)-based biodiesel.
We are a fully staffed plant with all Environmental & OSHA-mandated programs and training in place. We recently hired our Plant Manager, Mike Daily, a graduate Chemical Engineer who also has an MBA. Mike has global process experience and came to us via POET Ethanol where he was Technical Manager at the Glenville, MN Plant. We are currently transitioning Operation & Maintenance of the Plant from the 3rd Party staff that did the commissioning & start-up to the Regular, Full-Time Employees of Soy Energy.
Start-up of both the existing & new processes took longer than we anticipated but the progress has been steady & positive and the results are ASTM-quality biodiesel. We continue to make minor enhancements to the Plant as we strive to achieve better operating performance & efficiencies. These sorts of activities are a constant throughout the life of a facility like this.
One thing that is important to understand is that given we are a new Plant in an industry in which there have been some publicized quality problems, it is essential we always make a good-quality product.
There are numerous steps we take in creating Biodiesel from CSO. From beginning to end we continuously monitor product quality and never send product forward to the next process unless all tests indicate product is “on-spec” for the step it’s in. This is meticulous work but essential as Soy Energy establishes its reputation as a quality provider of advanced biofuels.
Consistent with this, we are in the process of obtaining BQ-9000 Producer certification which is the “gold standard” in our industry. The program ‘is a unique combination of the ASTM standard for biodiesel, and a quality systems program that includes storage, sampling, testing, blending, shipping, distribution, and fuel management practices. BQ-9000® helps companies improve their fuel testing and greatly reduce any chance of producing or distributing off-specification fuel. To receive accreditation, companies must pass a rigorous review and inspection of their quality control processes by an independent auditor. This ensures that quality control is fully implemented*. The BQ-9000® program is a rigid process that takes painstaking attention to all details impacting product quality.
Our marketer Renewable Products Marketing Group, RPMG, was able to sell the initial batch of finished biodiesel that we produced and are currently marketing the second batch of biodiesel we are in the process of finishing. They also have helped to supply adequate feedstocks to produce the Biodiesel.
All K-1’s have been sent out and likewise our Annual report (Form 10-K) has been filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission.
In an effort to save money, go green and get information out to you more expeditiously, we will be sending out next newsletter via email to those for which we have email addresses.
People criticize Warren Buffett for his views on taxes, for his company's low share price, for his dislike of gold. Why don't they criticize his conservative take on the growth potential of the U.S. economy?
