Elevance Renewable Sciences, Inc., a manufacturer of specialty chemicals, entered into an agreement with Wilmar International Limited, an agribusiness group, to form a joint venture for the construction of a biorefinery. The joint venture will use Elevance's proprietary biorefinery technology to produce performance chemicals, advanced biofuels and oleochemicals.

Under the terms, the manufacturing facility will begin with a capacity of 180kMT or approximately 400 million pounds with the ability to expand up to 360kMT or approximately 800 million pounds of products. The facility will use multiple renewable oil feed stocks, such as palm, mustard, soybean, jatropha or waste oils for production.

Following its operation, the biorefinery will produce green olefins, including a unique distribution of alpha and internal olefins for chemicals and advanced fuels; novel multifunctional esters and acids, including 9-decenoic acid, as well as a premium mixture of oleochemicals and advanced biofuels.

The new plant is expected to begin production in 2011. The facility will be located within Wilmar's manufacturing complex now under construction in Surabaya, Indonesia.

The joint venture is subject to certain conditions such as relevant government approvals.

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