Construction of a new biofuel start-up in Sombra is underway.
Forge Hydrocarbons Corporation, a Canadian biofuel start-up, is building the first-of-its-kind production plant on Holt Line.
President and CEO Tim Haig said they recently purchased the technology that was developed by Dr. David Bressler at the University of Alberta.
He said Forge’s patented lipid-to-hydrocarbon technology takes waste fats and oils and turns it into renewable fuels, including jet fuel.
"We are saying it's going to be 7.5 million gallons, which isn't a big plant, but 7.5 million gallons on an annualized basis," said Haig. "It's likely they'll produce more than that. We're finishing up the engineering and we will know more over the next few months."
Haig said biofuels can play a large role in reducing carbon dioxide emissions over the next few decades.
"Demand for diesel is expected to grow where the demand for gasoline is expected to fall over the next 30 years," said Haig. "It's a pretty interesting technology and something I've been working on for some time now."
The project will create about 150 construction and engineering jobs during the building phase, and 45-full time jobs once operational in early 2021.
-With files from Josh Boyce
