CountryMark to begin coprocessing renewable diesel at Indiana refinery in September

CountryMark held a ribbon-cutting ceremony July 22 to celebrate completion of a $100 million diesel-expansion project. (Photo: CountryMark)

CountryMark, a farmer-owned cooperative that operates in oil production, refining and marketing, marked a major milestone July 22 with the completion of more than $100 million in refinery upgrades in Mount Vernon, Indiana, that will improve its diesel-fuel quality and increase its diesel-fuel production capabilities.

CountryMark’s refinery investments utilize iso-dewaxing and coprocessing technology.

“Iso-dewaxing is the process of rearranging molecules so more of the heavier molecules can be used for diesel production,” said CountryMark President and CEO Matt Smorch. “Using these heavier molecules gives the fuel exceptional power and high cetane without sacrificing winter-performance capabilities of the fuel.”

Coprocessed renewable diesel is fuel produced by combining renewable feedstocks, like soybean oil, with conventional diesel.

“This approach, which we have taken, will allow CountryMark to produce renewable fuel, reduce the carbon intensity of our fuel and do so in the most cost-effective manner possible by utilizing existing refining assets and expertise,” Smorch said.

CountryMark’s diesel-expansion project included a new reactor, catalysts and soybean-oil offloading rack and storage.

As a result of these investments, CountryMark will have the potential to use up to 20 million gallons of refined, bleached and deodorized soybean oil per year.

“It is important to understand that renewable diesel differs from biodiesel in several ways,” Smorch said. “Renewable diesel meets ASTM D975 diesel specifications, is stable in long-term storage and has a low cloud point, while biodiesel does not have those characteristics.”

CountryMark broke ground last fall on its diesel-expansion project, following several years of engineering development.

Milestones included delivery of a new reactor in February, successful turnaround and startup in June, and initial technology validation in July.

Expansion of the crude unit will take place in August to increase diesel-fuel production, and coprocessing will begin in September to validate coprocessing technology.

Recognized through a ribbon-cutting ceremony held at its Mount Vernon, Indiana-based refinery, company leadership, government officials and community stakeholders were in attendance to recognize the successful completion of one of the largest undertakings in company history.

Following the ceremony, CountryMark hosted attendees on a refinery tour to see the investments made.

CountryMark expressed gratitude to its board, employees, safety teams, member cooperatives, the Mount Vernon community and agricultural allies including Indiana Farm Bureau and the Indiana State Department of Agriculture for their involvement and support of the company’s diesel-expansion project

CountryMark’s investment in renewable diesel production brings to the Midwest high-quality, reliable, affordable and cleaner-burning fuel.

While renewable diesel fuel blends have been available on America’s West Coast since 2010, CountryMark is Indiana’s first commercially available renewable diesel fuel production facility.