In line with its intentions to establish a manufacturing facility for cellulosic biomass isobutanol in Southeast Asia, Gevo, has signed an agreement with the East Coast Economic Region Development Council (ECERDC) of the Malaysian Government, the State Government of Terengganu and Malaysian Biotechnology Gevo deals in biofuels and renewable chemicals.
Subsequent to their continued efforts to establish their presence in Malaysia in the last one year, the company has been forging strategic alliances to support each activity in the supply chain for producing cost-effective bio-based isobutanol. Chris Ryan, President and Chief Operating Officer of Gevo, commented on the collaboration stating that this is an opportune time for the company to enter into the cellulosic sector owing to the expectations pertaining to the commercial viability of cellulosic feedstock technology this year. Ryan also stated that the company is aiming to firm up all agreements by the end of 2012 and to commence operation of the cellulosic plant by end of 2015 or beginning of 2016.
Southeast Asia is one of the rapidly expanding markets for chemicals. Jebasingam Issace John, Chief Executive Officer of the ECERDC, stated that the agreement was testimony to investors’ faith in the opportunities that the region offered. Gevo plans to build a fermentation facility to manufacture isobutanol. The facility will be located in Kertih, Terengganu, at the Biorefinery Complex. Mazlan Ngah, State Secretary of Terengganu and Dr. Mohd Nazlee Kamal, CEO of BiotechCorp, participated in the document exchange ceremony that took place in Boston, Massachusetts.