A Red Deer company’s plans to produce renewable diesel fuel have moved a step forward.
Blue Horizon Industries Inc. (CNSX: BH) announced on Thursday that its subsidiary, Blue Horizon Bio-Diesel Inc., has entered into an exclusive Canadian licensing agreement to use a process that converts hydrocarbons and cellulosic materials into renewable diesel fuel. Blue Horizon Bio-Diesel will pay a licence fee for the technology, as well as a per-litre royalty on the net sales of the fuel it produces.
Blue Horizon Industries president and CEO Don Allan confirmed earlier this week that Blue Horizon Bio-Diesel is preparing to build a bio-refinery at Bruderheim, near Edmonton. He said the plant should be operational by next June, and that it will process bitumen, used oil and cellulosic materials.
“It can be municipal waste, it could be wood chips, it could be newspaper — basically, as long as it’s cellulose fibre, that’s what we’re looking to mix with our oil,” said Allan.
In Thursday’s announcement, Blue Horizon Industries said the refining process involves a low-temperature catalytic reaction that produces no vapours or other pollutants. It added that the plant will initially mix used motor oil with paper to produce a “high-quality ultra-low sulphur diesel that is a renewable high-grade fuel.”
“After researching many technologies and after many pilot tests, we have concluded that the multiple feedstock opportunities, the resulting superior renewable diesel product, the environmental friendly refining methods attributed to this technology, along with our excellent technology partners, will result in Blue Horizon Bio-Diesel becoming a leader in the renewable fuel business,” said Allan in Thursday’s release.
Blue Horizon Industries is also active in other sectors through its Blue Horizon Contracting division, which dismantles industrial plants and related facilities; its Blue Horizon Energy Inc. subsidiary, which explores for oil and gas in Western Canada; and its 74 per cent interest in Blue Horizon Mining Inc., which is involved in mining projects in British Columbia.
— copyright Red Deer Advocate