Continental Refining expands biodiesel production capacity in Somerset, Kentucky
Continental Refining Co. announced Oct. 13 that it will keep its soybean-processing plant in Somerset, Kentucky, idled for the season as it evaluates options to repair and restart the facility following a July fire.
Meanwhile, the company said its biodiesel production and fuel-terminal operations continue without interruption, with a major expansion underway that will double biodiesel production capacity*.
The July 5 fire occurred while the soybean operation was idled and caused significant damage to the soybean-processing portion of Continental Refining’s 77-acre agricultural and petroleum industrial complex in Somerset.
The soybean plant has remained offline since the incident.
Continental Refining said it continues to evaluate the feasibility of repairing and restarting the soybean plant and is considering alternatives for the future of the operation.
While that process continues, the company is seeking a regional partner to operate its grain elevator.
Continental Refining said its biodiesel production and fuel-terminal operations were not affected by the fire and have remained fully operational.
Building on continued growth in its biodiesel business, Continental Refining began a capital expansion of its biodiesel production facility in August.
According to the company, the project is expected to be completed by Nov. 15 and will double the facility’s production capacity.
The company is also in the process of adding a rail spur connecting the facility to the Norfolk Southern main line, enabling it to receive and ship biofuel nationwide.
The investment comes as Continental Refining continues to experience double-digit growth in its biodiesel business and expands both its product offerings and regional reach.
In September, the company introduced “P51,” a higher-blend biodiesel product that has seen strong early success in the region.
P51 has been tested for several years in the equipment fleet of White Oil Co., an affiliate of Continental Refining, providing extensive real-world performance experience before the product was introduced to the broader market.
Continental Refining said it will continue producing high-quality biodiesel from soybean oil and other vegetable oils while expanding its agriculture-based fuel products into new markets.
“The company remains focused on supporting American agriculture, promoting U.S.-made products and providing domestically produced fuel alternatives amid ongoing geopolitical uncertainty,” Continental Refining stated.
The Somerset complex includes Continental Refining’s soybean-crush plant, biodiesel production facility, fuel-blending terminal and grain-handling infrastructure.
*Editor’s Note: Continental Refining had previously disclosed its biodiesel production capacity was 5 million gallons per year (mgy). Although the company did not state what its expanded capacity will be, ostensibly this will increase to 10 mgy upon completion of the project.
