Comstock Inc. (LODE) (“Comstock” and the “Company”) today announced execution of agreements with RenFuel K2B AB (“RenFuel”) to advance Comstock’s first commercial biorefinery, including an option to acquire a subsidiary of RenFuel (“JV”). The JV has previously completed extensive preliminary engineering for a new biorefinery using RenFuel’s patented catalytic esterification process to refine lignin from byproducts of paper production into a biointermediate for refining into sustainable aviation fuel (“SAF”) and renewable diesel in Europe. Comstock also committed to a strategic $3,000,000 investment in RenFuel payable over the next three years for the continued development and commercialization of advanced applications of RenFuel’s and Comstock’s complimentary technologies.
First Bioleum Hub
The existing engineering work for the JV biorefinery involves integration of the RenFuel process into a pulp and paper mill in Sweden. Comstock and RenFuel are currently evaluating the requirements for inclusion of an additional 25,000 TPY of biorefining capacity based on Comstock’s commercially available Cellulosic Ethanol and Bioleum derived fuels technologies.
RenFuel granted Comstock the right to acquire a majority stake in the JV as part of the consideration paid under Comstock’s investment, subject to preexisting and customary JV shareholder approvals. Importantly, RenFuel and the JV have previously entered into agreements with a strategic investor with significant renewable fuel refining assets in Europe that has committed to provide the JV with an offtake agreement for the biorefinery if certain thresholds are met. That investor owns a minority share of the JV with standard consent and other shareholder rights. The investor also recently announced its intention to make substantial additional investments in increased renewable fuel capacity at some of its existing refineries, in part to service the rapidly increasing global demand for SAF.
“RenFuel’s extensive work with this JV biorefinery site fits perfectly into our commercialization plans,” said Corrado De Gasperis, Comstock’s executive chairman and chief executive officer. “It allows both Comstock and RenFuel to capitalize on the existing TRL 7 scale-up work and accelerate construction of an initial small-scale facility based on Comstock’s technologies with embedded strategic feedstock and offtake stakeholders. The resulting integrated site would mark the first of our Bioleum Hubs, while providing a beachhead in the rapidly expanding European renewable fuels market. We are very excited to integrate this project into our portfolio and we look forward to working with RenFuel and its feedstock and offtake partners.”
Strategic Investment in RenFuel
In addition to advancing Comstock’s first commercial Bioleum Hub, Comstock agreed to provide RenFuel with a $3,000,000 senior secured convertible debt investment to provide additional funds to commercialize its breakthrough catalytic esterification technology, including development of advanced joint applications of RenFuel’s and Comstock’s complimentary technologies.
Comstock’s proprietary technologies are proven to convert lignocellulosic biomass into Cellulosic Ethanol and proprietary Bioleum biointermediate blends at extraordinary yields exceeding 100 gallons per dry tonne of biomass on a gasoline gallon equivalent basis (“GGE”), and market-leading, extremely low carbon intensity (“CI”) scores of 15. Comstock is already using RenFuel’s catalytic esterification technology to refine its proprietary Bioleum derivatives into Hydrodeoxygenated Bioleum Oil (“HBO”), for use by advanced biofuel refineries in blending with, diversifying, and extending conventional hydroprocessed fat, oil, and grease feedstocks that can simultaneously produce SAF and Renewable Diesel Fuel. Comstock holds the exclusive license to RenFuel’s refining technologies in North America, Central America, and South America.
Sven Löchen, RenFuel’s chief executive officer, added that “we are thrilled with our rapidly expanding strategic partnership with Comstock. Comstock’s technologies and proprietary Bioleum products create a vastly expanded market opportunity for our technologies worldwide, which Comstock is currently advancing in the Americas. Simultaneously, Comstock’s direct investment in RenFuel will help to support our continued growth and technology development, while their leadership and participation in the JV will build on our significant historical commercialization investment in our planned 100,000 ton per year biorefinery in the European market. We are looking forward to working with the JV’s strategic feedstock and offtake partners to include Comstock in the JV commercialization efforts to build value for all stakeholders. Our two companies are strongly aligned on a shared mission and vision of enabling systemic decarbonization and net zero mobility.”