Vancouver, B.C. – March 19, 2009 – Lignol Energy Corporation (TSX-V: LEC) (“Lignol” or “the Company”), a leading technology company in the cellulosic ethanol and biorefining sector, today announced that a project led by its wholly-owned subsidiary, Lignol Innovations Ltd., has been awarded up to $1.82 million in additional funding contributions from Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC).
This award is in addition to the $4.42 million awarded to date from SDTC, representing an aggregate contribution to Lignol from SDTC of up to $6.24 million. The scope of the current work plan that commenced June, 2006 with the support from SDTC will be completed by Q2 2009 and supports the overall project costs estimated to be $20.36 million. The project will result in the establishment of a world-class, integrated, industrial scale facility for the production of cellulosic ethanol and unique renewable biochemicals.
“Our Government is investing in new and innovative technologies to help move forward the next generation of renewable fuels,” said Mark Warawa, Member of Parliament for Langley and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of the Environment. “These new technologies have the potential to generate even greater environmental benefits than traditional renewable fuels and will provide new economic opportunities.”
"The additional funding from SDTC is an important contribution that will enable us to enhance the functionality of our industrial pilot plant here in British Columbia and allow us to pursue several truly innovative breakthroughs that were developed by our renowned engineers and scientists,” said Ross MacLachlan, President and CEO of Lignol. “This funding has enabled us to extend this phase of operations well into the first half of 2009 with an expanded scope of our project together with enhancements for enzyme utilization and process improvements.”
“The creation of bio-refineries, producing both cellulosic ethanol and related co-products from non-food biomass feedstocks, is of fundamental importance as Canada tries to move its economy forward,” said SDTC President and CEO Vicky Sharpe. “The technology developed by Lignol has the potential to bring Canada one step closer to this goal and to secure its place as a global leader in the production of next-generation biofuels.”
About SDTC
Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC) is an arm's-length foundation which has received $1.05 billion from the Government of Canada as part of its commitment to create a healthy environment and a high quality of life for all Canadians. SDTC operates two funds aimed at the development and demonstration of innovative technological solutions. The $550 million SD Tech Fund™ supports projects that address climate change, air quality, clean water, and clean soil. The $500 million NextGen Biofuels Fund™ supports the establishment of first-of-kind large demonstration-scale facilities for the production of next-generation renewable fuels. SDTC operates as a not-for-profit corporation and has been working with the public and private sector including industry, academia, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), the financial community and all levels of government to achieve this mandate. For more information, please visit www.sdtc.ca.
About Lignol
Lignol (TSX-V: LEC) is a Canadian company undertaking the development of biorefining technologies for the production of fuel-grade ethanol and other biochemical co-products from non-food cellulosic biomass feedstocks. Lignol's modified solvent based pre-treatment technology facilitates the rapid, high-yield conversion of cellulose to ethanol and the production of value-added biochemical co-products, including a HP-L(TM) High Purity Lignin. Lignol is executing on its development plan through strategic partnerships to further develop and integrate its core technologies on a commercial scale. Lignol also intends to invest in, or otherwise obtain, equity interests in energy related projects which have synergies with its biorefining technology. For more information about Lignol, please visit our website at www.lignol.ca.
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Caution concerning forward-looking statements
Certain statements contained in this document may constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Such forward-looking statements or information include, without limitation, statements or information about our ability to fund our Baseline Operations, our fully integrated biorefinery pilot plant in Burnaby, British Columbia, the planning and development of our cellulosic ethanol commercial demonstration plant in Colorado, our ability to exploit commercial opportunities and broaden our market opportunities for a range of cellulosic derivatives and environmentally sustainable biochemicals and our ability to pursue these opportunities with strategic partners. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements or information can be identified by the use of words such as “plans”, “expects” or “does not expect”, “is expected”, “budget”, “scheduled”, “estimates”, “forecasts”, “intends”, “anticipates” or “does not anticipate”, or “believes” or variations of such words and phrases or words and phrases that state or indicate that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might” or “will” be taken, occur or be achieved. Such statements or information reflect Lignol’s current views with respect to future events and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions including, without limitation, our ability to establish the validity of our technology at the fully integrated biorefinery pilot plant scale, our ability to satisfy the conditions of existing government grants and to obtain new additional grants, our ability to close the second tranche of the private placement announced on February 12, 2009, our ability to finance and complete the development of the commercial demonstration plant, our ability to develop our products, our ability to obtain requisite regulatory approvals and our ability to enter into agreements with strategic partners on terms acceptable to us. Forward-looking statements and information are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by management, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. Many factors could cause Lignol’s actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements that may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or information, including among other things, the complexity of the development of the commercial demonstration plant, market conditions which will effect our ability to finance our operations, risks relating to the protection of Lignol’s core technology from infringement and those risk factors which are discussed elsewhere in documents that Lignol files from time to time with securities regulatory authorities. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements or information prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein as intended, planned, anticipated, believed, estimated or expected. Except as required by law, the Company expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward looking statements and information whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. All written and oral forward-looking statements and information attributable to us or persons acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the foregoing cautionary statements.
For further information:
Lignol Energy Corporation
Paul Hughes,
Vice President - Corporate Development and Communications,
Tel: 604-453-1246,
Email: phughes@lignol.ca
Email: info@lignol.ca The Equicom Group
Bruce Wigle
Investor Relations
Tel: 416-815-0700 ext. 228
Email: bwigle@equicomgroup.com