COLUMBUS, Miss. (WTVA) -- KiOR officials announced Monday the company has made the initial shipments of cellulosic diesel from its Columbus facility.
The company says the process uses pine wood chips to produce gasoline and diesel and calls the product the first renewable hydrocarbon fuel in the U. S. manufactured on a commercial scale.
The process uses non-food feedstocks to avoid competition with human food needs.
Unlike biodiesel or ethanol, the fuel is made with a renewable crude oil manufactured by KiOR.
The company also says the fuel is the first renewable cellulosic gasoline registered by the EPA for sale in the U.S.
KiOR officials say the shipments helped the company show revenue during the fourth quarter of 2012.
The company still posted a loss of $29.7 million in the fourth quarter and $96.4 million for the year.
The company is in the process of building another facility in Adams County.
