In the United States (US) Red Rock Biofuels LLC, a next-generation producer of low-carbon biofuels, has announced that it is working with GLC Advisors & Co. to source a development partner to finance the completion of its first biofuels facility that will produce sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and renewable diesel.
Red Rock is building one of the world’s first commercial-scale cellulosic biorefineries in Lakeview, Oregon (OR) to convert woody biomass residue into sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and cellulosic renewable diesel fuels.
The facility will be one of the first SAF plants in North America to produce drop-in fuels and is designed to produce approximately 20 million (US) gallons (≈ 76 million litres) per year of low-carbon intensity renewable biofuels.
Management and contractor reshuffle
As part of the process to source a development partner, the Company has parted ways with Terrance Kulesa and Jeffrey Manternach and put in place new management, a new engineering team, and an independent committee of the board, each with deep expertise and experience in engineering, energy project construction, and turnaround management.
Specifically, the company terminated its arrangements with companies affiliated with Kulesa and Manternach and transitioned to a “best-in-class” engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) team that includes: S&B Engineers and Constructors, Ltd.; Nexus Program Management Group, LLC, which will be evaluating startup and commissioning efforts, a world-leading engineering construction company; and EthosEnergy, which is providing asset management services.
Chip Cummins, an Executive Director at RPA Advisors who began working with the Company in March 2021, is serving as the interim CEO. He will work closely with the Company’s independent board and with GLC, S&B, Nexus, the unnamed world-class construction manager, and Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe, as legal counsel, to find a development partner.
I am honored to serve as interim CEO for Red Rock Biofuels and look forward to tackling the growing need for low-carbon, renewable jet, and diesel fuels. The Company is uniquely positioned to deliver sustainable biofuel with attractive financials and a scalable model and I’m very focused on delivering upon that mission. I am confident that we have the right advisors to execute on our vision of being an early market entrant in the renewable biofuels space for the transportation and aviation industries, Chip Cummins said.
Going forward, the Company expects to be a significant contributor in the SAF Grand Challenge to reduce the costs, enhance sustainability and expand the production of SAF, as the aviation industry seeks to reach its goal of net-zero emissions.