Technip biodiesel contracts in France

Paris -- Technip has won two turnkey contracts from Diester Industrie, which is establishing two new biodiesel process production units in France, based on the Axens process, Technip announced 5 Dec.

The first contract covers the construction of a production unit in the Bassens port zone, near Bordeaux. The second will double the existing biodiesel production capacity of the Diester’s Grand-Couronne plant, near Rouen.

According to Technip, the contracts reflect its involvement in the biofuels development programme established by the French government. The initiative is intended to reduce both transportat-related air pollution and dependence on imported energy.

These new units will both have a capacity of 250 kilotonnes per annum and are due to come on stream in late 2007. Biodiesel from the transesterification of vegetable oils -- sunflower or colza oils-- is used in a mixture with diesel oil for diesel engines.

The new projects extend a collaboration between Technip and Diester Industrie, a pioneer in the production of biodiesel in France. Technip has already built three units for the company – at Rouen, Sète and Compiègne -- and is currently constructing another unit, in Montoir-de-Bretagne.