VERBIO is opening its own petrol station on company grounds

Zörbig, Germany, November 16, 2007 – VERBIO is opening its own petrol station with VERBIO biofuels on its company grounds in Thura Mark 20 in Zörbig, Germany. It took a long time to get the permits needed, but they are finally there. And that’s a reason to celebrate for Dr. Wolfram Klein, managing director of MBE Mitteldeutsche BioEnergie GmbH & Co. KG (a subsidiary of VERBIO AG).

Biofuels are already being admixed
There is already a certain proportion of biofuels in each litre of petrol or diesel filled at German petrol stations. While the sector is still debating minimum admixture rates as an equivalent to tax breaks, VERBIO AG is putting its faith in boosting direct sales of its biofuels. VERBIO is advancing an ambitious agenda because it is targeting 500 medium-sized petrol station companies offer the biofuel E85 along with biodiesel by the end of 2008. This fuel is 85% bioethanol and 15% petrol. E85 is a fuel that is not very well known in Germany in contrast to a lot of other countries where E85 has been used for years.
 
Bioethanol is a modern ecological fuel
One of the good things about the biofuel E85 is its octane rating (at least 110, putting it measurably above the octane rating of premium fuels). However, its higher performance also involves additional consumption when it is used exclusively. Using E85 not only gives you more driving enjoyment because it is more lively. You are also sure you are doing something good for the environment. That’s why the German government classified E85 as particularly eligible for support because of its positive ecological properties. This is the reason why E85 will be tax-free until 2015. Of course, cars have to be equipped with a special engine control system that makes it possible to fill the tank both with E85 and petrols including any blend of the two fuels. There are some manufacturers that feature flexible fuel vehicles (FFV) for the biofuel E85 on the German car market and the number is increasing every day. Beyond this, specialised garages stock low-cost retrofitting kits for various car models.

VERBIO supports biofuel sales throughout the country
VERBIO will be opening the next petrol station in Potsdamer Strasse 11 in the Berlin borough of Zehlendorf on November 28, 2007 in joint forces with Sprint Tank GmbH, Berlin. They will be selling the biofuel VERBIO E85.

VERBIO supports biofuel sales throughout the country
Driving with E85 drives down environmental pollution. Beyond this, VERBIO even substantially improves the CO2 balance of bioethanol production by using enhanced-strength energy crop grain in little demand by the foodstuffs industry and the energy-efficient cold mash technique. But VERBIO wasn’t satisfied with that. In future, they will be integrating biogas plants to guarantee complete energetic utilisation of the raw materials used because even the residues of fermentation accumulating in biogas plants are used as fertilisers.

VERBIO’s CO2 balance in producing biofuels will be unsurpassed, setting it clearly apart from the competition. And VERBIO is investing capital and commitment in the downstream advancement of its technologies to make sure it stays that way.

Information on VERBIO Vereinigte BioEnergie AG
The VERBIO Group is one of the leading producers and suppliers of biofuels and also the only industrial-scale producer of biodiesel and bioethanol in Europe. Nominal capacity currently amounts to around 400,000 tons of biodiesel and 300,000 tons of bioethanol per year. The company has developed its own processes and innovative technologies for the production of biodiesel and bioethanol. It supplies its products directly to European mineral oil corporations, mineral oil traders, independent fuel stations and haulage companies. VERBIO AG also markets high-quality pharmaglycerin for the consumer goods and cosmetic industries (glycerin is a by-product of biodiesel production). Within the Group, VERBIO AG acts as the management holding company. The Group’s operating business is run by its subsidiaries: MUW Mitteldeutsche Umesterungswerke, NUW Nordbrandenburger Umesterungswerke, MBE Mitteldeutsche BioEnergie, NBE Nordbrandenburger BioEnergie and SBE Swiss BioEnergy.