Kolmar Group AG has purchased a Connecticut biodiesel plant – Greenleaf Biofuels LLC – located in New Haven, Connecticut. The plant has been renamed American Greenfuels, LLC. With capacity of about 15 million gallons, it is relatively small for the 2-billion gallon U.S. biodiesel market but is the largest biodiesel plant in New England.

According to Mr. Raf Aviner, President of Kolmar Americas, Inc., “This is a very important acquisition for Kolmar. It is the first such acquisition in the company’s history, and it shows the deep commitment Kolmar has to Connecticut, the environment, the biodiesel industry in general, and to the employees at the plant, in particular. Kolmar has had a strategic relationship with the biodiesel plant for several years, and bringing this facility and its employees into the Kolmar family is a good development for all stakeholders.”

The acquisition gives room for Kolmar to be a more significant biodiesel player even as an increasing number of producers sell their fuel directly.

The biodiesel industry has a few large players like Renewable Energy Group Inc (REGI.O) and is otherwise fairly fragmented.

Kolmar, a major importer of the biofuel, previously had a tolling arrangement with the Connecticut plant. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.