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Area Development - Site Selection, Facility Planning and Workforce Development

Mainstream Pine Products Plans Berkeley County, South Carolina, Crude Oil Biorefinery

02/01/2021
Mainstream Pine Products plans to build an estimated $90 million crude tall oil biorefinery at the Charleston International Manufacturing Center in Berkeley County, South Carolina.

The biorefinery will be a highly advanced recycling facility with capacity to process 110,000 tons of CTO for use in a wide range of industrial applications. The company anticipates breaking ground and starting construction later this year with operations commencing in 2023.

CTO is a renewable, non-food resource and a byproduct of pine trees used in paper manufacturing. It is a vital component of many chemicals including renewable diesel processing products, lubricants, adhesives, inks, paints, coatings, and tire and rubber additives.

“We conducted deep-dive market studies and reviewed pine chemical industry cycles. The increasing demand for renewable, non-food source materials led us to a nationwide search for the best location in which to expand our operations. The Goose Creek site was unsurpassed among many we considered. “It affords us an ideal manufacturing location in an integrated industrial park with reliable infrastructure and intermodal access for efficient delivery of source materials and shipping of refined products,” said Mainstream Pine Products President & CEO Rob Helwick.

“Mainstream Pine Products’ announcement builds on South Carolina’s growing reputation in the renewable materials sector. I applaud this innovative company for establishing this new facility in Berkeley County and look forward to watching them thrive for years to come,” Secretary of Commerce Bobby Hitt said.

According to the Charleston Regional Development Alliance, this facility will serve as the centerpiece of Mainstream’s strategy to become the highest quality, lowest cost producer of CTO derivatives in North America.

“We are pleased to welcome Mainstream Pine Products to our community and look forward to its continued growth and success. By selecting Charleston Industrial Manufacturing Center as its home, it underscores what a competitive advantage this unique park in Berkeley County offers to businesses around the world,” Charleston Regional Development Alliance Board Chairman John Hagerty noted.

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