IFP plant will turn fat into clean fuel

A HUGE bio-diesel facility is planned for Ireland, which would be the largest of its kind in Europe.

Irish Food Processors (IFP) — which is owned by beef baron Larry Goodman — announced there are plans in the pipeline to build a plant capable of converting animal fat into 110 million litres of biodiesel annually.

Scotland currently has the plant with the highest European output of 40m litres annually.

Biodiesel is a cleaner-burning diesel fuel which is the result of a process that transforms vegetable oils and animal fats.

It can be used by cars, trucks and other vehicles that use diesel without any alteration to engines and is considered much better for the environment.

A IFP spokesman would not confirm the cost or possible location of the facility but said the company hopes to begin construction on it by the end of this year.

“There will have to be good access to indigenous raw materials, and route to market for the finished product. A sizeable number of acres will be needed to accommodate tank farms, processing areas and services areas.

“As the facility will be highly automated it will only need about 50 employees. Animal fat that arrives at the plant will have been extracted elsewhere.”

He said the refining process was “very clean” and IFP did not anticipate opposition to the plan.