SOURCE: Raven Biofuels International Corporation
November 07, 2008 16:30 ET
Raven Biofuels Signs MOU With Kamloops Indian Band for Feedstock and Biorefinery Development
PARAMUS, NJ--(Marketwire - November 7, 2008) - Raven Biofuels International Corporation
(OTCBB: RVBF) ("Raven" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has
entered into a Memorandum of Understanding ("MOU") with the Kamloops Indian
Band ("KIB") located in Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada, the purpose of
which is to further the development and construction of a proposed ethanol
biorefinery and cogeneration power plant in conjunction with KIB.
As part of the agreement, KIB (www.kib.ca) would provide a site ideally
situated for industrial use near Kamloops, BC. KIB brings significant
access to feedstock resources secured via a multi-year Provincial forestry
agreement in which KIB has rights to 124,000 cubic metres of beetle-killed
wood within the Kamloops Timber Supply Area. The forestry agreement
augments a forest and range agreement signed by the band in 2005, which
granted $2.5 million in shared revenues and 272,000 cubic metres of timber
over five years.
Recent meetings in Kamloops have led to the agreement between both parties
of a non-binding MOU which outlines the mutual interest towards pursuing an
alliance leading to the construction of a cogeneration power facility and
biorefinery utilizing technology and expertise provided by Raven plus a
site, feedstock and other resources provided by KIB. Mr. Ken Day of Price
Biostock (www.pricebiostock.com) was instrumental in introducing Raven to
KIB. Price Biostock will maintain a role in providing feedstock expertise
and management in the proposed venture.
Raven, through its Canadian subsidiary, and KIB plan to quickly move ahead
and develop a course of action for the lease of a 30-acre site located near
Kamloops, BC with direct rail and road access for the construction of an
environmentally safe facility. Current plans identify an initial annual
output of 7 million gallons (MGY) of fuel grade ethanol and 4 million
gallons of furfural, furfural alcohol, related eco-friendly derivative
chemicals and lignin cake. Due to the size of the proposed location, future
capacity could be increased to double the plant's production based on its
current design.
Estimated capital expenditure for the initial plant (not including the
cogeneration power facility) is anticipated to be CAD $33 million with
projected revenues of CAD $44 million per year. The initial refinery would
employ approximately 30 people directly and provide other related regional
economic benefits such as the ongoing provisioning of feedstock to the
refinery.
Planning for a definitive agreement includes the execution of a feasibility
study to develop arrangements with KIB for a continuous supply of
approximately 500 dry ton / per day of organic cellulosic waste. This
feedstock would primarily be wood chips from regionally sourced, mountain
pine beetle-killed wood fiber as well as other appropriate wood waste
sources from the area.
Additional studies would include safe transportation planning as well as
the development feasibility of a co-generation plant to provide process
steam and power to the proposed biorefinery which offer added financial
benefits from offset revenues via the sale of power to the grid and/or the
local area. Fuel for the electrical plant is identified as hog fuel
consisting of bark and waste wood also sourced primarily from the pine kill
forest lands.
Company Management, in conjunction with its engineering firm, will conduct
an assessment of all necessary permitting and conduct a full environmental
survey in accordance with government guidelines and further plan to assess
the possibility of training programs undertaken by Raven for the purpose of
establishing employment of band members towards the operation of the plant.
The MOU identifies that discussions will include the possibility of an
equity investment and ownership from KIB in Raven and/or the projected
plant as well as other mutually beneficial business opportunities including
the possible development of the Raven brand as a First Nations commercial
brand offering a full product line of renewable fuels and eco friendly
specialty chemicals as well as future E85 gas stations in British Columbia
and other parts of Canada.
Further specifics outlining the agreements between both parties will be
made upon completion of negotiations, full details of which will be made
publicly available at that time as part of the Company's regulatory
disclosure filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC").
About Raven Biofuels International Corporation (OTCBB: RVBF)
Raven Biofuels is a developing global renewable energy company focused on
producing ethanol from waste or biomass (cellulosic ethanol). Raven plans
to build commercial scale refineries using a proprietary 2 stage dilute
acid hydrolysis process to convert forestry and agricultural waste to
transportation grade ethanol. The production of cellulosic ethanol could
play a major role in national energy independence as it has in Brazil.
Ethanol made from waste is a viable clean fuel that can play a part in
reducing emissions that cause global warming and reducing independence on
foreign oil. For more information visit: www.ravenbiofuels.com
Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of
Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, including without limitation those
statements regarding the ability of Raven Biofuels International
Corporation ("Raven" or the "Company") to construct any ethanol plants or
proceed with the commercialization of its technology or that it will be
able to exploit, develop, acquire, finance, operate, or make profitable,
any of the commercial opportunities discussed or described herein. These
forward-looking statements are not historical facts and can be identified
by the use of forward-looking words or phraseology such as "believes,"
"expects," "may," "intends," "anticipates," "plans," "estimates," and
analogous or similar other expressions intended to identify such
forward-looking statements. Actual results could differ materially from
those reflected in such
forward-looking statements. Raven and its principals will not assume any
obligation to update any of the
forward-looking statements to reflect any events, facts, or circumstances
that may arise other than as may be required by applicable law or
regulation.