By Mary Page Bailey |
Mainstream Pine Products LLC announced plans for an estimated $ 90 million crude oil refinery (CTO) at the Charleston International Manufacturing Center (CIMC) in Berkeley County, SC
The biorefinery will be a highly advanced recycling facility, with the capacity to process 110,000 tons of CTO for use in a wide range of industrial applications.
The company expects to start construction and start construction later this year, with operations starting in 2023.
CTO is a non-food renewable resource and a by-product of pine used in papermaking. It is a vital component of many chemicals, including renewable diesel processing products, lubricants, adhesives, paints, paints, coatings and additives for tires and rubber.
“We have conducted in-depth market research and reviewed the cycles of the pine chemical industry,” said Rob Helwick, president and CEO of Mainstream Pine Products. “The growing demand for renewable and non-food materials has led us to a national search for the best location to expand our operations.
“The Goose Creek location was unsurpassed among many that we consider,” continued Helwick. “This provides us with an ideal manufacturing location in an integrated industrial park with reliable infrastructure and intermodal access for efficient delivery of source materials and shipment of refined products.”
With access to interstate highways, deep water transportation and railway facilities, Mainstream’s 10-acre facility will feature industry-leading Nexpinus technology provided by Neste Engineering Solutions Oy. Associated project and engineering management will be provided by PegasusTSI Inc. and supported by Neste Engineering Solutions.
Mainstream also established a long-term raw material supply chain and hired Citigroup Global Markets Inc. to act as a subscriber to its tax-free project financing.
“It is important for us to develop our line of renewable products in a factory that meets the most stringent environmental standards,” explains Helwick. “All things being equal, we believe that the general population prefers renewable products and the biorefinery recognizes the growing world demand for more sustainable products.”
Mainstream will be located in the 1,750-acre advanced manufacturing park at the Charleston Industrial Manufacturing Center (CIMC) owned and operated by Cooper River Partners (CRP). The Center offers rail and deep water access via barges. CRP provides utility services to tenants, such as steam, compressed air, process water and more.