OREANDA-NEWS. July 09, 2008. The biodiesel refinery set up by AS Biodiesel Paldiski in the northwestern Estonian port town Paldiski has started regular operation after a trial period, reported the Official website www.investinestonia.com.

During one-and-a-half months the company has produced 2,500 tons of biofuel. The transit of vegetable oils and biofuels started in May.

Sales totaled 35 million kroons (EUR 2,24 mln) in May and are expected to double in June.

Aigar Ojaots, board member of Biodiesel Paldiski, said that the refinery has successfully passed all trial phases in the past six months and everything is going smoothly.

The refinery exports 95 percent of its output to Lithuania, Western Europe and Scandinavia.

The refinery is expected to reach 85 percent of its output capacity by the end of this year, being able to process all the oil made from raw material grown in Estonia.

The plant is operating at 50 percent capacity now, after two months of activity. In the coming years all the initial plans are going to be carried out, Ojaots said.

The refinery's equipment was supplied by Desmet Ballestra, one of the leading biodiesel technology companies worldwide.

Owned by Estonian investors, the plant works three shifts every 24 hours without interruption.