REGINA – Construction of an $8.6 million ethanol and food plant in Weyburn, Sask. will finally go ahead this winter, according to the president of Plains Food Fibre.
Rod Alain confirmed Nov. 4 that Bellringer Resources Ltd. of Calgary had purchased the 25 percent share of Plains previously owned by TDI Projects Inc., making Bellringer a 100 percent owner.
Alain, who is also acting president of Bellringer, declined to say if any specific problems might have led to the delay and the buyout. The plant was expected to open last fall.
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“It was in the best interests of the project,” he said. “It had to be one owner, one direction.”
Renovations to begin
Engineers were expected at the site of the former McGuiness distillery this week to start planning a renovation of the building for ethanol and food production.
Alain said the plant is capable of producing 10 million litres of ethanol annually, but “we’re going for triple the production.”
That would make this plant the largest producer in Canada.
Food for American market
The ethanol will be sold entirely in Canada, he said, although he wouldn’t say to whom. The food product for human consumption will be developed specifically for the American market. The plant will employ about 25 people, all local residents.
Alain is optimistic about the future of ethanol. He said fuel additives are “on the way out and ethanol is on the way in.
“Pound-Maker is trying to increase production by 50 percent,” Alain said. “If the market is soft they wouldn’t be doing that.”
Pound-Maker, located at Lanigan, Sask., produces about 12 million litres of ethanol each year, which it sells to Mohawk.
