Solazyme, Inc. (South San Francisco, Calif.; www.solazyme.com), a renewable oil and bioproducts company, and Sasol Olefins & Surfactants have announced that they have finalized commercial terms for the supply of an algal oil rich in erucic acid (C22:1) that is under development at Solazyme for production of downstream derivatives such as behenyl alcohol. Sasol O&S produces and sells C22 derivatives such as behenyl alcohol to serve a number of applications in markets that include the paper, water treatment, personal care, lubricants, oil and gas, and paints, inks, coatings and adhesives industries. In addition to the agreementon commercial supply terms, the companies also executed a letter of intent to investigate expanding to a broad collaboration, including joint manufacturing and marketing of multiple tailored oils.
The supply agreement covers multiple years with binding minimums and increasing supply quantities of tailored algal oil, with pricing to be competitive and indexed to Solazyme’s raw material costs. The companies anticipate initial commercial production of the high erucic oils currently under development at one or more Solazyme or Solazyme partner manufacturing facilities, including the Solazyme Bunge Renewable Oils facility in Orindiúva, São Paolo State, Brazil, as well as Solazyme’s manufacturing capacity in Clinton, Iowa, United States.