Vicksburg ethanol plant to close - MSNewsNow.com - Jackson, MS

Vicksburg ethanol plant to close

VICKSBURG, Miss. (AP) - Bunge-Ergon will suspend ethanol production at its Vicksburg plant by the end of November, citing high corn prices.

Ergon spokesman Jim Temple says Bunge-Ergon would reassess market conditions and decide whether to resume operations in 2013.

Geoff Cooper of the Renewable Fuels Association says more than 10% of ethanol plants nationwide are idle. But he expects the current ethanol glut to decrease by year's end.

The plant is a joint venture of the Dutch-based Bunge Group and privately-held Ergon, based in Flowood, Miss. Ergon, with $3.8 billion a year in revenues, operates refineries and other businesses.

The Vicksburg plant opened in 2008 at a cost of more than $100 million and is 1 of only five corn-to-ethanol refineries south of the Ohio River, according to Renewable Fuels Association records.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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