Novozymes expands biofuels enzyme plant in Nebraska

Industrial enzymes producer Novozymes A/S (CPH:NZYM-B) is investing USD 36 million (EUR 32m) to expand the capacity of its plant in Blair, Nebraska that produces enzymes for renewable fuels, Nebraska governor Pete Ricketts and the company announced last week.

Copenhagen, Denmark-based Novozymes said in a blog post it has been encouraged by the continued growth in the US biofuels industry, noting that US ethanol production has grown to 15.3 billion gallons (57.9 billion litres) in 2016 from 13.2 billion gallons in 2012 , driven by expansion of exports and the return of stability in the Renewable Fuel Standard.

"With stable, clear policies like the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) that encourage competition at the gas pump, we will continue to grow the market for American ethanol," said Novozymes Americas president Adam Monroe.

Novozymes opened its manufacturing facility in Blair some five years ago and currently employs 115 people there. Construction on the expansion has been underway for several months and is due to be complete in June.

Nebraska is the second largest ethanol producer in the US after Iowa and produces more than 2 billion gallons a year.

(USD 1 = EUR 0.889)

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