Just sharing info on BP i just read

Jennings biofuel plant to close

60 workers could be affected at BP ethanol facility
By Ken Stickney

British Petroleum will close its biofuels plant in Jennings, the company confirmed Tuesday, as employees worldwide await the oil giant’s plans for the rest of the decade, to be revealed Wednesday in London.
About 60 BP employees and some contract employees work at the Jefferson Davis facility, which BP purchased along with a second facility in San Diego from Verenium as part of a $98.3 million deal in 2010. The Jennings site, about 35 miles west of Lafayette, was part of BP’s effort to develop “next generation cellulosic biofuel technologies from agricultural waste.” In Jennings, that meant developing ethanol from sugar cane waste.

As part of the 2010 deal, BP hired the scientists and technologists connected to the Jennings plant.
BP spokesman Jason Ryan said Tuesday that the plant staff had been informed of the company’s decision to shift focus away from development of ligno- cellulosic ethanol technology.

“While we believe there is value in the LC technology, we have chosen to focus our biofuels investment on building the profitability and scale of our sugar cane biofuels business in Brazil and associated activities,” the company said in an issued statement.

In addition to the demonstration plant in Jennings, the decision also affects BP’s sites in San Diego, a Highlands feedstock farm in Florida and some activities in Brazil, the company said. The company will try to sell those properties. “We are committed to sup¬porting our staff through this process and informing them of their individual positions as soon as we are able,” Ryan said.

The facility is expected to close by the end of the first quarter of 2015.

BP employs 630 people in Louisiana at six sites, including the BP Biofuels plant. It also operates the Houma Heliport, the point of departure for BP employees and contract workers traveling to offshore rigs.
BP cited low oil prices as a factor behind its decision to contract its business.