VeraSun Energy Corp. (NYSE: VSE), one of the nation’s largest ethanol producers, announced that it will delay the startup of its 110 million-gallon-per-year (MMGY) ethanol production facility in Hankinson, N.D. The Hankinson biorefinery marks the third VeraSun facility that has delayed startup operations this month due to market conditions, joining other 110MMGY plants in Welcome, Minn., and Hartley, Iowa.
"Given the current volatility in the market, we believe that delaying all three of these startups is the prudent decision for the long-term benefit of our company and shareholders," said VeraSun CEO Don Endres. "Ethanol is currently being sold at a deep discount to unleaded gasoline, which has caused us to delay the start-up of these facilities until the outlook for ethanol selling prices and overall margins improve."
Construction on the Hankinson facility will be completed by the end of June, while construction on the Hartley and Welcome biorefineries was completed earlier this month.
About VeraSun Energy Corporation
VeraSun Energy Corporation, headquartered in Brookings, S.D., is a leading producer of renewable fuel. Founded in 2001, the company has more than 1.3 billion gallons of annual ethanol production capacity through 14 biorefineries. Three additional facilities are currently either under construction or development with a combined capacity of 330 million gallons. Upon completion of the new facilities, VeraSun Energy will have an annual production capacity of approximately 1.75 billion gallons. Recently, the company began construction at its Aurora facility that will allow it to extract oil from dried distillers grains.
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