France: Avril opens 100,000 t/yr biodiesel plant in Mediterranean

The French biofuels producer Avril has opened a 100,000 t/yr biodiesel plant to meet the higher blending levels issued by the French government. The plant will raise the company’s biodiesel production capacity to 1.7 mio. t. In 2013 Avril shut down its two northern France facilities in the aftermath of the government’s refusal to raise biodiesel blending level beyond 7%. However, late last year the government agreed to increase the blend level by 1%, bringing it to 8%. The €13 million Avril plant is set to compete with Total’s planned factory, also to be constructed in southern France and expected to have an output of 500,000 tonnes of biodiesel by 2017.

Source: Biofuels International