Solazyme, Inc., a renewable oil and bioproducts company, last Thursday announced that its joint venture with Bunge Global Innovation LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Bunge Limited, has successfully produced its first commercially saleable products on full-scale production lines, including the 625,000L fermentation tanks, at the Solazyme Bunge Renewable Oils plant in Brazil. Both oil and encapsulated lubricant, Encapso, products have been manufactured; production is continuing and is expected to reach nameplate capacity within the next 12-18 months. Encapso, is a new, biodegradable drilling additive that is encapsulated to deliver high-grade liquid lubricant precisely at the point of friction.
With production underway at the Solazyme Bunge Renewable Oils plant, Solazyme is manufacturing products at three large scale facilities, including our 2,000 MT/year integrated facility in Peoria, the 20,000 MT/year Iowa facilities in Clinton/Galva and the 100,000 MT/year facility in Brazil, said Jonathan Wolfson, CEO Solazyme. Continued progress at the recently completed adjoining co-gen facility has resulted in more reliable power and steam, enabling startup of commercial operations and production of our first commercially saleable product. We are truly excited to have begun manufacturing operations at our joint ventures flagship facility in Brazil.
"The start of production at the Solazyme Bunge Renewable Oils plant is an important milestone for this joint venture. Were proud of the work we have done with our partner Solazyme in bringing the world's first built-for-purpose renewable oil plant on line. We remain committed to the success of the joint venture and see significant market opportunities that we can address together," said Ben Pearcy, Managing Director, Sugar & Bioenergy, Bunge Limited.
Solazyme, Inc. is a renewable oil and bioproducts company that transforms a range of low-cost, plant-based sugars into high-value oils. Headquartered in South San Francisco, Solazymes renewable products can replace or enhance oils derived from the worlds three existing sources petroleum, plants and animal fats. Initially, Solazyme is focused on commercializing its products into four target markets: (1) fuels and chemicals, (2) nutrition, (3) encapsulated lubricants and (4) consumer products.
Solazyme®, Encapso, and the Solazyme logo are trademarks of Solazyme, Inc.
