Palm | Kelapa Sawit

The go ahead has been given for a $243 million soybean processing and bio-diesel production facility at Port Kembla, ABC News reports.

New South Wales’ Minister for Lands, said: "This is the first integrated soybean processing and bio-diesel production facility in Australia and is a major boost to the Illawarra. The project is expected to generate $977 million in revenue and in addition to the 235 new permanent full-time jobs, will provide approximately 725 jobs in related industries and a further 500 jobs during construction of the facility. The plant will produce 288 million litres of bio-diesel a year; along with 850,000 tonnes of soy bean meal for poultry and livestock feed”."

In July 2007 the NSW Government implemented legislation to mandate the blending of all diesel fuel blended with 2% bio-diesel, the mandate will increase from two per cent to five per cent in 2011," he added. (19 May 2009)