Archer Daniels Midland Company has announced that it will build a 265 million liter (70 million gallon) biodiesel plant in Lloydminster, Alberta, Canada, which will increase ADM's North American biodiesel production capacity by 50 percent. The biodiesel plant will be located adjacent to the company's existing canola crushing facility in Lloydminster which will help optimize ADM's agricultural origination, transportation and processing assets in Canada.

"The same agricultural processing operations we use to transform canola into oil for food and meal for animal feed also provide ADM with the ability and scale to efficiently produce cleaner-burning, renewable biodiesel," said Mike Livergood, ADM vice president, global oleo chemicals.

"This new biodiesel facility will help support canola crush margins and capacity utilization at this facility."

Biodiesel produced at ADM's facility in Lloydminster will help fulfill Canada's renewable diesel mandate. Since July 1, 2011, all diesel fuel and heating oil sold in Canada must contain at least 2 percent biodiesel.

"Biodiesel represents a smart investment for ADM and for Canada," said J.P. Montalvo, commercial manager at ADM's Lloydminster facility. "A robust Canadian biodiesel industry diversifies the fuel supply, provides environmental benefits and fosters increased local demand for canola, which creates value for rural communities. We look forward to working with canola producers to help meet Canada's desire for renewable biodiesel."

Construction on the facility will commence in spring 2012, and be completed in the fourth quarter of calendar year 2013.

In March, ADM announced plans to double the canola seed receiving capabilities and storage capacity at the Lloydminster facility. The project, which is expected to be completed by the end of the calendar year, includes the construction of five new storage bins and a second receiving system, which is expected to significantly reduce unloading times for area farmers.