Plans to bring a new “biorefinery” to the Grangemouth area will be the main topic of discussion at a public consultation event later this month.

Celtic Renewables Ltd are proposing to lodge a major planning application for the development of a biorefinery, with ancillary office space, the installation of plant, energy and process infrastructure and associated works at the former Versalis site, to the west of the A904 Grangemouth Road.

In order to share information on the proposals and gather community views, the firm has organised a drop-in community consultation event to take place at the Grangemouth Community Education Unit, Abbots Road, Grangemouth, from 4pm to 7.30pm on Monday, June 22.

Project information will be available to view and comment upon with the design team in attendance.

The new plant will have ten times the capacity of Celtic Renewables' existing facility (Picture: Submitted)

placeholder image — The new plant will have ten times the capacity of Celtic Renewables' existing facility (Picture: Submitted)

Last year, Celtic Renewables appointed engineering design consultancy Allen Associates, part of the Forsyth Group of companies, to undertake extensive work to finalise the design of the proposed new facility, which will have ten times the capacity of the company’s current demonstrator plant in the town’s Caledon Green.

The firm uses a fermentation process to transform locally sourced by-products and waste from the food, drink and agricultural industries into low-carbon green chemicals bio-acetone, bio-butanol, and bio-ethanol.

Last year, Celtic Renewables CEO Mark Simmers said: “This project with Allen Associates is an important step for Celtic Renewables as we look to ramp up our

current production capabilities to meet the growing global demand for bio-based alternatives to chemicals derived from fossil fuels.

“The team at Allen Associates have a wealth of experience in related industry sectors and an expert eye for the detail required for successful design of this type of

facility.

"When built, our new biorefinery at Grangemouth will be Celtic Renewables’ first world-scale commercial facility. It will provide the blueprint for future green chemical

production facilities, both here in the UK and in other markets around the world.

“Our proposed new facility is a cornerstone of the Scottish and UK Government’s plans to deliver an inclusive, long-term just transition for the Grangemouth area, so that it can move forward from its refining and petrochemical heritage and become a hub for Scotland’s burgeoning green economy that brings with it new high-value jobs.”