PEKIN, Ill., June 13, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Aventine Renewable Energy Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:AVR), a leading producer, marketer and end-to-end provider of clean renewable energy, today announced that it has added a major new biodiesel producer to its biodiesel marketing program.
Delta BioFuels has commenced biodiesel production at its facility located at the Port of Natchez, Natchez, Mississippi. The facility began biodiesel production on May 8, 2007 and is currently capable of producing 18 million gallons of biodiesel per year. Delta BioFuels is nearing completion of a continuous flow production line which would increase production capacity to between 80 to 100 million gallons of biodiesel per year. The Delta BioFuels plant is located on over 60 acres on the Mississippi River. In addition to barge access, the plant is serviced by Canadian Railways and has fully-functioning tank truck loading and unloading facilities.
Jim Sneed, Aventine's Vice President of Biofuel Marketing, said, "We are excited to have Delta BioFuels as part of our biodiesel marketing program. The addition of Delta BioFuels represents one of the largest biodiesel facilities in the country. Adding their production capacity significantly expands our biodiesel marketing program. We look forward to a long, mutually beneficial relationship between our two companies."
Clint Vegas, President of Delta BioFuels added, "We have put in thousands of hours of hard work and dedication to get to where we are today. The Delta BioFuels team has worked relentlessly over the past year to get this plant up and running. Because of this, we wanted to make sure that our biodiesel marketer was the best in the industry. We believe we found that in Aventine."
About Aventine
Aventine is a leading producer, marketer and end-to-end distributor of ethanol to many leading energy companies in the United States. Aventine is also a marketer and distributor of biodiesel. In addition to ethanol, Aventine also produces distillers grains, corn gluten feed, corn germ and brewers' yeast. Our Internet address is www.aventinerei.com.
About Delta BioFuels, Inc.
Delta BioFuels, Inc. is a private alternative energy company dedicated to producing only the highest quality biodiesel, meeting or exceeding all industry standards. With its on-site lab, state of the art equipment and experienced technical staff, Delta BioFuel's operations are best in class.
The Natchez facility is located in the Port of Natchez, directly on the Mississippi River. The facility is able to receive feedstock and distribute biodiesel by barge, rail or truck -- allowing Delta BioFuels to serve any market on a global scale. The Natchez facility will approach 80 to 100 million gallons per year of capacity by the end of 2007, making it one of the largest biodiesel plants in the country. Their Internet address is www.deltabiofuels.com.
Forward Looking Statements
Certain information included in this press release may be deemed to be "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included in this press release, are forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statements are not guarantees of Aventine's future performance and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, developments and business decisions to differ materially from those contemplated by such forward-looking statements. Aventine disclaims any duty to update any forward-looking statements. Some of the factors that may cause Aventine's actual results, developments and business decisions to differ materially from those contemplated by such forward-looking statements include the following:
* Changes in or elimination of laws, tariffs, trade or other controls
or enforcement practices such as:
-- National, state or local energy policy;
-- Federal ethanol or biodiesel tax incentives;
-- Regulation currently proposed and/or under consideration
which may increase the existing renewable fuel standard and
other legislation mandating the usage of ethanol or
biodiesel;
-- State and federal regulation restricting or banning the use
of Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether;
-- Environmental laws and regulations applicable to Aventine's
operations and the enforcement thereof;
* Changes in weather and general economic conditions;
* Overcapacity within the ethanol, biodiesel and petroleum refining
industries;
* Total United States consumption of gasoline;
* Availability and costs of products and raw materials, particularly
corn, coal and natural gas;
* Labor relations;
* Fluctuations in petroleum prices;
* The impact on margins from a change in the relationship between
prices received from the sale of co-products and the price paid
for corn;
* Aventine's or its employees' failure to comply with applicable laws
and regulations;
* Aventine's ability to generate free cash flow to invest in its
business and service any indebtedness;
* Limitations and restrictions contained in the instruments and
agreements governing Aventine's indebtedness;
* Aventine's ability to raise additional capital and secure
additional financing for future expansions, and our ability to
service such debt, if obtained;
* Aventine's ability to retain key employees;
* Liability resulting from actual or potential future litigation;
* Competition;
* Plant shutdowns or disruptions at our plant or plants whose
products we market;
* Availability of rail cars and barges;
* Renewal of alliance partner contracts;
* Our ability to receive and/or renew permits to construct and/or
commence operations of our proposed capacity additions in a timely
manner, or at all; and
* Fluctuations in earnings resulting from increases or decreases
in the value of ethanol or biodiesel inventory.