http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-01-15/ethanol-blended-e10-dalby-biorefinery-running-capacity/8178956
[links and images in on-line article]
New E10 mandate proves to be saving grace for Queensland
grains-to-ethanol plant
By Ellie Sibson
Posted Sat at 7:59pm
Australia's first grains-to-ethanol plant, once under threat of closure,
is now hoping to expand its operation in southern Queensland.
The Dalby biorefinery on the state's Western Darling Downs has been
running at capacity since the Queensland Government's ethanol mandate
came into effect this month.
Under the new laws, ethanol-blended E10 fuel has to make up at least 30
per cent of petrol available for sale in Queensland.
The plant, owned by United Petroleum, buys locally grown sorghum and
processes the grain's starch into ethanol.
Chief operating officer David Szymczak said the mandate has secured the
future of the facility.
"At this stage the plant is running at 100 per cent and we foresee that
going forward," he said.
"But with the uptake of E10 petrol and the boost to the economy, it's a
win all round."
Leftover grain to be turned into animal feed
AgForce Grains president and Dalby farmer Wayne Newton sells sorghum to
the facility.
He said the plant was a convenient customer for producers.
"It's good for all the grain producers in the state because the more
grain that's consumed here for one of these sort of products like
biofuels, means the other grain producers have more options for their
grain and less competition from the local growers who are selling into
biofuels."
The biorefinery is expected to process 200,000 tonnes of grain this year.
A large dryer has recently been installed at the biorefinery to convert
the leftover grain into a high-protein meal for animal feed.
Mr Szymczak said the company would like to expand its operations further.
"We'd have to build extra tanks on site to actually produce the
ethanol," he said.
"It would be a major project to do it but the plant was designed to be
increased so that can be done.
"At this stage we haven't really committed to that expansion and we need
to see what further signals there are from government about the
expansion of renewable fuels."
