Subiaco-based Natural Fuel Ltd has signed a letter of intent for a long-term offtake agreement with GEM BioFuels Plc for the supply of crude jatropha oil as a feedstock for its Singapore biodiesel facility.
Subiaco-based Natural Fuel Ltd has signed a letter of intent for a long-term offtake agreement with GEM BioFuels Plc for the supply of crude jatropha oil as a feedstock for its Singapore biodiesel facility.
The agreement will allow for the supply of up to 55 per cent of GEM's crude jatropha oil production in Madagascar to NFL at a free on board delivery price of US$500 per tonne. NFL will also subscribe 650,000 pounds to secure a 3.9 per cent equity position in GEM as part of its AIM listing scheduled for completion in October.
Further details of the agreement will be supplied upon formal completion of the contract, expected to occur by the end of this month.
The full text of a company announcement is pasted below
Natural Fuel Limited (ASX: NFL) is pleased to announce it has signed a Letter of Intent for a Long-term Off-take Agreement with GEM BioFuels Plc (GEM) for the supply of crude jatropha oil as a feedstock for its Singapore biodiesel facility. The final Agreement is due for completion following GEM's expected listing on the London AIM.
The Off-take Agreement will allow for the supply of up to 55% of GEM's crude jatropha oil production in Madagascar to NFL at a free on board delivery price of US$500 per tonne. NFL will also subscribe £650,000 to secure a 3.9% equity position in GEM as part of its AIM listing scheduled for completion in October.
NFL's biodiesel plants are designed to use a broad variety of virgin vegetable oils giving it significant flexibility in feedstock sourcing and blending to produce biodiesel to international specifications.
Jatropha oil produces high quality biodiesel with superior cold flow properties, allowing NFL to blend it with palm oil and achieve cool weather biodiesel.
Mr Earl McConchie, NFL Chief Executive Officer said: "This partnership will allow NFL to lock in a substantial long term supply of crude jatropha oil at a very favourable price and represents the first key step in our ongoing feedstock strategy.
"As the amount of jatropha oil being supplied by GEM increases each year, the underlying strategy and pricing will deliver greater operating profits to NFL. The use of jatropha oil is consistent with our strategy to use only sustainably-produced vegetable oils," Mr McConchie said.
Beginning in early 2009, GEM will initially supply 2.5% of NFL's Singapore facility production requirements, with supply increasing year on year as its jatropha plantation program develops.
Mr Paul Benetti, GEM Chief Executive Officer said: "At the maturity of GEM's current plantation program in 2013, the Agreement will secure up to 25% of NFL's production requirements in Singapore.
"GEM's existing land holding for jatropha plantations in Madagascar is in excess of 450,000 hectares. When fully mature, these plantations could provide up to 50% of NFL's Singapore feedstock requirements," he said.
Further details of the Off-take Agreement will be supplied upon formal completion of the contract.
