Sunoco announced this week in the Oswego Business Journal that it remains committed to scaling up the northeast's largest ethanol production plant by mid 2010. The company acquired the facility at the former Miller Brewery property in Riverview Business Park and is planning approximately $20 million in capital improvements on top of the $200 million that was already invested in the site. “This is a first step into an area of possible growth for the company that we continue to evaluate. We can use our considerable manufacturing and logistics experience to make it successful,” Sunoco spokeswoman Virginia Logan said.
Sunoco has retained its own engineering firm to complete work on design upgrades to the facility. “Sunoco is currently in the process of finalizing the scope of work necessary. We expect work to begin this fall and the plant ready to start in the second quarter of next year. Full production is targeted for second quarter 2010,” Logan said. The plan was designed to produce 100 million gallons of ethanol a year. Sunoco intends to use all of the ethanol produced there, which is expected to supply about 25 percent of Sunoco’s ethanol needs. Sunoco is a leading manufacturer and marketer of petroleum and petrochemical products. It has a refining capacity of 825,000 barrels a day and 4,700 retail sites selling gasoline and convenience products.
“Sunoco has a long history of involvement in alternative fuels,” Logan said. “The facility is strategically located and its acquisition provides Sunoco with the opportunity to further several key objectives.”
The company is making a “significant investment” and “recognizes the importance of bringing this plant into operation,” she added.
