Montreal, Quebec, Canada-based waste-to-biofuel technology developer Enerkem Inc. announced May 14 the launch of new research and development (R&D) – in collaboration with the Government of Canada – to develop new catalytic processes for the conversion of waste into drop-in biofuels.

Argentina filed a new complaint on May 15 with the World Trade Organization (WTO) against the EU’s rules for biodiesel importation and marketing.

Global biofuel output for 2013 is expected to grow by 90,000 barrels per day (b/d) to 1.95 million b/d, reflecting a downward revision of 80,000 b/d compared to 2012, the International Energy Agency (IEA) reported in its annual Medium-Term Oil Market Report (MTOMR) released May 14.

The European Commission (EC) is conducting “inspections” at energy firms and at least one price-index publisher in three EU member states as part of an investigation into alleged price-fixing, the commission confirmed May 14.

The European Renewable Ethanol Association (ePURE) based in Brussels, Belgium issued a statement May 14 urging the European Commission (EC) to investigate if EU customs legislation is properly being applied in Finland.

Las Vegas-based biodiesel technology vendor Methes Energies International Inc. announced May 13 that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Methes Energies Canada Inc., signed a purchase and cooperation agreement with BioFuel Aruba of Oranjestad, Aruba, to initially purchase one “Denami 600” biodiesel processor.

BioFuelNet Canada, a nonprofit organization hosted by McGill University in Montreal, Canada announced May 14 that it signed an agreement with Air Canada and Airbus to help them develop aviation biofuels.

The Government of Canada announced May 10 that the National Research Council of Canada (NRC), Canadian Natural Resources Ltd. (Canadian Natural) and Pond Biofuels have partnered in a three-year joint project that will use algae to recycle industrial carbon-dioxide (CO2) emissions from an oil-sands facility into commercial products like biofuels.

Sacramento, Calif.-based ethanol producer and marketer Pacific Ethanol Inc. (PE) announced May 13 that it filed an amendment to its “certificate of incorporation” to reflect a one-for-15 reverse stock split of its issued and outstanding shares of common stock, which officially went into effect on May 14.

CME Group, the world’s leading and most diverse derivatives marketplace, announced May 17 that the first ethanol Renewable Identification Numbers (RINs) futures contract was cleared May 16 over its “CME ClearPort.” The trade was brokered by StarFuels Inc.

Boulder, Colo.-based bio-based biotech outfit OPX Biotechnologies Inc. (OPXBIO) and Germany-based specialty chemical firm Evonik Industries AG announced May 14 that they entered into an agreement to jointly develop “certain bio-based specialty chemicals,” according to a joint statement issued by the two companies.

La Jolla, Calif.-based Synthetic Genomics Inc. (SGI) announced May 16 a new co-funded research agreement with ExxonMobil to develop algal-biofuels. The new agreement “is a basic science research program that focuses on developing algal strains with significantly improved production characteristics by employing synthetic genomic science and technology,” according to a statement issued by SGI. Financial details of the agreement weren’t disclosed.

Visalia, Calif.-based cellulosic-ethanol technology developer EdeniQ announced May 14 that it successfully completed a “performance test” that exceeded the benchmark of 1,000 hours of continuous operation at its “Corn-to-Cellulosic Migration” demonstration facility in Visalia, which employs a proprietary technology to convert over 1 metric ton of cellulosic feedstock per day to cellulosic ethanol.

Minneapolis, Minn.-based based bio-based chemical developer BioAmber Inc. announced May 14 the closing of its initial public offering (IPO) of 8 million units consisting of one share of common stock and one warrant to purchase half of one share of common stock at US$10 per unit, implying a market capitalization of approximately $180 million before underwriting discounts and commissions.

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) announced May 14 that it will hold a public workshop on its “low-carbon fuel standard” (LCFS) regulations May 24 at the California Environmental Protection Agency’s headquarters in Sacramento.