Like their inputs of corn, Kawartha Ethanol wants to get their employees from the local area as well. Rather than attempting to attract already trained workers from other ethanol plants they are looking for different skill set: only creative thinkers with post-secondary education need apply. There are currently 27 employees at the plant which includes lab technicians and engineers.
Kawartha Ethanol produces 80 million litres of ethanol a year and operates 24/7. Canada has a requirement for at least 2% ethanol in the gasoline for every vehicle. The United States has an average of 10% ethanol requirement for it’s gasoline. Some say this may go up to 15% in the US in the not- to-distant future.
The process of making biodiesel creates 1/3 ethanol, 1/3 waste and 1/3 Co2 which goes through scrubbers before being released into the atmosphere. Local livestock can’t get enough of the corn mash that is part of the “waste products.” It is picked up by the truckload and delivered to local farms for feed.
Before the ethanol leaves the facility it has to have gasoline added to it. This is a security measure to prevent someone from stealing the pure ethanol and selling it for consumption.
The GPA EDC was able to assist Kawartha Ethanol by providing funding through its recent manufacturers’ training initiatives.
Submitted by: Laura Lauzon, Director of Manufacturing
