Continental Refining breaks ground on soy-crush, biodiesel project in Kentucky

Continental Refining Co. broke ground Dec. 21 on its new soy-crush, biodiesel and blending facility in Somerset, Kentucky, according to the governor’s office. Jacqueline Coleman, the state’s lieutenant governor, was in attendance along with local and state officials and CRC executives.

In April, CRC announced plans for the new operation at its existing 77-acre site to provide products that include soy meal, soy oil, soy hulls, biodiesel, ultra-low sulfur diesel, crude glycerin and gasoline, among others. CRC expects soybean processing to begin early next year, with the operation’s new fuels terminal established by next summer.

The facility is expected to process nearly 84,000 tons of soybeans per year and generate up to 5 million gallons of biodiesel annually.

In August, CRC was awarded a grant for more than $1.7 million from USDA’s Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program.

Last month, CRC announced the reopening of the Somerset petroleum refinery following a closure of more than a year. Currently, the company’s fuel distribution and bulk lubricant operations include distribution of Phillips 66 products and on-site fueling for retail, commercial and industrial, construction, agriculture and residential customers in Pulaski County and the surrounding region.

The new soy-crush, biodiesel and blending facility represents an investment by CRC of nearly $27 million, according to the governor’s office.