December 01, 2004
Chinese Conglomerate to Acquire Montana-based Biofuels Firm
YaSheng Group, a Chinese $1.5 billion hi-tech agriculture, salt chemistry and biotech conglomerate, has signed a letter of intent to acquire 80% of Montana-based biofuels firm Sustainable Systems, LLC. Sustainable will become a division of YaSheng and continue its focus on developing biorefineries and continue to research, develop and commercialize bio-based fuels, lubricants, specialty chemicals and other bio-based products. Sustainable Systems currently markets two brand of biodiesel: Montana Biodiesel and PacBio in B2, B5, B20 and B100 blends.

The combined company will seek to expand its manufacturing operations and retail pump presence. It anticipates developing and building a scalable bio-refinery in Washington State with a projected annual output of 253,000 tons (70 million gallons). Sustainable had dicussed its plans for a Pacific Northwest biorefinery at the National Ethanol Producers conference in June—the acquisition by YaSheng should provide the resources necessary for such expansion.

http://www.greencarcongress.com/2004...se_conglom.htm

What really ticks me off about this is that Sustainable received much of it's funding for start-up, R&D and forming grower co-ops from grants from the federal and state governments
Should be illegal that they would be able to profit from taxpayer money by selling out to foreigners.

 

Our hard earned dollars hard at work against us again. 70 million bbls a year? thats a bunch. Maybe McDonalds will change the fryer oil more often now

 

It's all about that GLOBAL economy. It sucks and we let it happen. We need to Keep "us" dollars here and to pay "us" people to do this very thing.

 

It is unfortunate that everything happens overseas. I guess it is global economy, but its sucking the us economy down to the level of the rest of the world..... it just doesnt seem right.... widespread presence of biodiesel wouldnt be bad, especially if they can lower the price of fuel when they do it......

 

It is STILL better for our vehicles, reducing emissions, and NOT sending money to the middle east. It's also recycling, a renewable resource, and still supports american farmers (not all bio is sourced from WVO). I am all for more bio pumps everywhere. Also , I've never heard of sustainable systems biodiesel. I don't think it's one of the bigger companies like World Energy, Griffin, pacific, etc.

 

Sending the money to the middle east, sending it to china, don't see much difference, neither is our friend. Good corpreican thinking, use tax payers money to build something worth having then cash out to people who are not our friends "free trade" is not free, it has cost 3 million americans there jobs, but then good corpreicans like bush like having some unemployment

 

DSjockey - your ranting aside - if it doesn't make a difference where we send the money - middle east vs china - and those are the only two options for fuel, wouldn't you want to choose the fuel that was better for your vehicle, emissions, and supported american farmers? Maybe the profit is going to china, but they still have to buy the oil from american farmers and recycle our used oil.

 

Heard this on NPR.
I wonder how the resent discovery of soybean rust will affect the bio world. It was found 2 weeks ago in one of the gulf states. It was brought to the US by hurricane Ivan and there is no fungicide to control it yet and not for at least 3 years. No resistant variety's available either. More than likely there will be a giant reduction of soybean growers.

 

that doesnt sound good for the bean industry...... where did ivan bring it from? It would be interesting to know more about this if you happen to hear any more, or read it somewhere, post some links....

 

Lightman, what makes you so sure they won't import the beans?

 

I think they are gonna try to use rice instead of our beans and turn our vehicles into rice burners!?!?!?!?!

 

What makes you think they won't dismantle the entire Biodiesel plant and move it to China.

 

I live in washington I hope they build a refinery here bio is over 3 dollars a gallon everywhere I can find it I can't afford that

 

It wouldn't be cost effective for them to import beans, make oil, and then make biodiesel. DS now you're just playing devil's advocate..

Shovelhead I'm not sure if you were joking or not - but the transportation would be cost prohibitive. I'm going to assume you were kidding though =]

 

If they have their own cheap labor pool, own their own ships & trucks, our definition of "Cost Effective" might not even be in the equation.
OR
They can "Reverse Engineer" the entire plant and build their own in China.
(Naaaw, they'd NEVER do something like THAT )