The facility, which is expected to produce 140 million litres of biodiesel and 12,000 tonnes of pharmaceutical grade glycerine per year, has been producing biodiesel since it began the commissioning phase in late November.

According to BEI, the biodiesel being produced meets all Australian biodiesel specifications, and when blended with ultra-low sulfur diesel at B5 and B20 it meets the Australian mineral diesel standard.

Ramp-up to full-scale commercial production was originally expected in January; however, under the construction contract entered into with Lurgi Pacific, the plant is not considered fully commissioned until it has operated at 95% nameplate capacity for 72 hours producing biodiesel at required specifications.

Delays over the Christmas period hampered the commissioning process and Natural Fuels is currently working with Lurgi on minor modifications, which have been successfully implemented in other Lurgi projects.

Glycerine produced at the facility has been refined to BSP99.85% and agricultural trading business ConAgra Trade Group, which is supplying the JV with a primary feedstock of refined, bleached and deodorised palm olein, is sending samples to various customers with the first consignment expected to be shipped in the next week.