Enerkem begins commissioning of front-end systems at the Enerkem Alberta Biofuels facility in Edmonton, Canada

MONTREAL, Dec. 3, 2013 /PRNewswire/ - Enerkem (www.enerkem.com) announced today that commissioning is gradually beginning at its full-scale municipal waste-to-biofuels and chemicals facility in Edmonton. This update was shared by Enerkem's CEO at the Canadian Renewable Fuels Summit currently being held in Montreal, Canada.

"Beginning the commissioning of front-end components at Enerkem Alberta Biofuels is a major milestone and we are proud of all the work accomplished to date", said Vincent Chornet, President and CEO of Enerkem. "We also believe that this game-changing facility, built in partnership with the City of Edmonton, can become a model for many communities around the world that are looking for a sustainable way to manage waste."

Enerkem Alberta Biofuels is among the world's first commercial facilities to be built for the production of advanced biofuels. During construction, more than 600 direct and indirect jobs were created across North America for the modular manufacturing of its parts and systems and on-site assembly.

Construction of the facility is nearing completion and Enerkem will complete the commissioning during the next few months. Production of biomethanol will start gradually during this period. An ethanol module will be added in 2014.

This facility is a collaboration between Enerkem, the City of Edmonton and Alberta Innovates - Energy and Environment Solutions. When fully operational, it will have a production capacity of up to 38 million litres per year and will help the City of Edmonton divert 90% of the residential waste stream from landfill.

About Enerkem
Enerkem makes biofuels and renewable chemicals from waste. With its proprietary technology, Enerkem converts non recyclable municipal solid waste into methanol, ethanol and other widely used chemical intermediates. Headquartered in Canada, Enerkem operates both a demonstration plant and a pilot facility in Quebec.  Enerkem Alberta Biofuels is the company's first full-scale commercial facility and additional biorefineries are currently being developed in North America and globally. Enerkem's technology and facilities help diversify the energy mix and make greener everyday products while offering a sustainable alternative to landfilling. www.enerkem.com

SOURCE ENERKEM INC.