Bunge, Chevron break ground on new oilseed-processing plant in Louisiana

State and local officials joined Chevron and Bunge in celebrating the groundbreaking event for Bunge Chevron Ag Renewables’ new oilseed-crush plant in Louisiana. (Photo: Bunge)

Bunge and Chevron announced March 4 approval of a final-investment decision for their joint venture Bunge Chevron Ag Renewables LLC to build a new oilseed-processing plant adjacent to its existing processing facility located on the Gulf Coast in Destrehan, Louisiana.

The announcement was celebrated with a groundbreaking event at the site.

The plant features a flexible design, intended to allow it to process soybeans as well as softseeds, including novel winter-oilseed crops such as winter canola and CoverCress (a proprietary, modified pennycress), among others.

Expected to be operational in 2026, the processing facility aims to add scale and efficiencies to Bunge Chevron Ag Renewables to allow the company to better meet the increased market demand for renewable fuel feedstocks.

The plant is also intended to support the growing feed and protein markets through the production of meal products.

“This new facility is another step in our long-term strategy to improve our capabilities at scale for the renewable fuels market and to reduce the carbon intensity of our own and our customers’ value chains,” said Luciano Salvatierra, Bunge’s senior vice president of renewable fuels.

The expansion is expected to create more than 150 construction jobs and add 30 new jobs when the plant is operational.

“Having greater ability to process softseeds, including novel winter-oilseed crops, will help advance our innovation in the feedstock space and meet the growing demand for renewable fuels,” said Stacey Orlandi, director of manufacturing for Chevron Renewable Energy Group. “Investments like this one help support farmers and consumers while reducing the lifecycle carbon intensity for transportation fuels.”

Bunge Chevron Ag Renewables is focused on developing renewable fuel feedstocks by leveraging Bunge’s expertise in oilseed processing and farmer relationships and Chevron’s expertise in renewable fuels production and marketing.

Under the joint-venture agreement, Bunge operates the joint venture’s processing plants in Destrehan and Cairo, Illinois, and Chevron has purchase rights for the oil to use as feedstock to manufacture transportation fuels with lower lifecycle carbon intensity.