Mainstream Pine Products LLC announced plans for an estimated $90 million crude tall oil (CTO) biorefinery at the Charleston International Manufacturing Center (CIMC) in Berkeley County, SC.

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.

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. 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,” said Rob Helwick, president and CEO of Mainstream Pine Products. “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,” Helwick continued. “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.”

With access to interstate highways, deep water shipping, and rail facilities, Mainstream’s 10-acre facility will feature industry leading Nexpinus technology provided by Neste Engineering Solutions Oy. The associated project management and engineering will be provided by PegasusTSI Inc. and supported by Neste Engineering Solutions.

Mainstream has also established a long-term raw material supply chain and has engaged Citigroup Global Markets Inc. to serve as the underwriter for its tax-exempt project financing.

“It is important for us to develop our line of renewable products in a plant that meets the most rigorous environmental standards,” explained Helwick. “All things being equal, we believe the general population prefers renewable products, and the biorefinery acknowledges the world’s increasing demand for more sustainable goods.”

Mainstream will be located in the 1,750-acre advanced manufacturing park at Charleston Industrial Manufacturing Center (CIMC) owned and operated by Cooper River Partners (CRP). The Center offers rail and deep-water access via barge. CRP provides utility services to tenants, such as steam, compressed air, process water and more.