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Area Development - Site Selection, Facility Planning and Workforce Development

General Biofuels Georgia Invests $60 Million In Wood Pellet Biofuel Manufacturing Facility

09/18/2012
General Biofuels Georgia, LLC will invest $60 million on construction of a wood pellet manufacturing plant in Sandersville, Georgia, creating 35 jobs.

The plant, which is scheduled to begin construction in the first quarter of 2014, will manufacture industrial-grade wood pellets for sale to a major European utility under a long-term contract. Capacity of the plant will be approximately 440,000 tons per year.

Renewable feedstock will come from Georgia timberlands and local lumber producers. Pellets from the plant will be loaded into railcars for transport by the Sandersville Railroad and Norfolk Southern Railway to the Port of Savannah for intermediate storage and trans-load to ocean-going ships. "Sandersville is an ideal setting for our pellet production facility. The timber resources are abundant, the workforce is capable and motivated and the transportation system from Sandersville to the Port of Savannah will be tremendously advantageous. We look forward to joining the Washington County business community," said founder and chairman for General Biofuels Ruby Sahiwal.

"We are committed to making Georgia the No. 1 place in the nation in which to do business and a central plank in our strategy is to boost the manufacturing sector," said Gov. Nathan Deal. "Our state is uniquely equipped to help manufacturers compete globally and efficiently meet the needs of their customers. So, I am especially glad to welcome General Biofuels to Georgia."

"We are very excited to have General Biofuels join the Washington County business community and for the Sandersville Railroad to provide long-term rail transportation services," said Executive Director of the Development Authority of Washington County Charles Lee. "This project offers manufacturing jobs to the Washington County region and will provide long-term, stable employment in the timber harvesting, manufacturing, transportation sectors, and increase exports through the Port of Savannah."

While incentives offered the firm were not immediately available, Georgia Department of Economic Development Commissioner Chris Cummiskey said, "General Biofuels' location to Sandersville is great news for central Georgia. The biofuels industry in Georgia is growing by leaps and bounds. We have more commercial timberland than any other state in the country, as well as the workforce and the logistics infrastructure needed to move the product quickly and efficiently to market."

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