DuPont, NTL to open cellulosic ethanol manufacturing plant in China

DuPont and Jilin Province New Tianlong Industry Co. Ltd. (NTL) announced Monday that they will team up to bring a new cellulosic ethanol manufacturing plant to Siping City, Jilin Province, China.

The agreement sees DuPont licensing its cellulosic ethanol technology and the use of its DuPont Accellerase enzymes to NTL for the production of renewable biofuel from the leftover biomass on Jilin Province's highly productive corn farms. The deal will allow NTL to produce cellulosic renewable fuel for the quickly expanding Chinese liquid biofuel market, which is projected to exceed 1.7 billion gallons per year by 2020.

"As we bring online the largest and most sophisticated cellulosic facility in the world in the state of Iowa in the United States, we are simultaneously working with leaders who share the same vision of producing the next generation of clean renewable fuels in their region," Jan Koninckx, global biofuels leader for DuPont Industrial Biosciences, said. "We are honored to have found such a strong partner in NTL. The company's reputation for producing world-class grain ethanol makes it a superior candidate to put DuPont's advanced technology to work to realize the additional economic and environmental benefits of cellulosic biofuel in China."

A signing ceremony took place in Changchun featuring representatives of both companies, Siping City Secretary Liu Xijie and Lishu County Secretary Sun Yanjun. NTL is working to secure the necessary government approvals and support to implement the agreement.

"With its history of scientific innovation, collaboration and commitment to the ethanol industry, DuPont is an ideal partner for New Tianlong in our quest to bring the cleanest renewable fuel on the planet to China," Sun Guojing, general manager of NTL, said. "We look forward to working with DuPont over the coming years as we develop the biomass supply chain, construct a world-class facility, and produce fuel that delivers on the promise of reduced pollution and greenhouse gases. This project will augment our current excellent grade ethanol offerings and business and will make NTL the preeminent biofuel product supplier in China."