The hold-ups are expected to cause about $US1.2 million of blow-outs to the project, for which Agri originally arranged a $60 million finance loan facility.

First biodiesel is expected from the plant in November, increasing output to about 189.2 million litres per annum over the following few months.

Agri said it was waiting on delivery and installation of the two main reactors for the FAME or Axens component of the facility.

Once delivered and erected, the reactor vessels require final piping, connection of instrumentation and loading of catalyst to be ready for start-up. This process is expected to take six to eight days.

The plant will then be handed over to the Axens commissioning team to oversee the start-up and biodiesel production.

The remainder of the Beatrice biodiesel facility is complete, commissioned and handed over to the operations group.

Agri said soy oil has been run though the total system including the refinery section, while utilities and other infrastructure were complete and in use.