Shell biofuels production plant 'a success'

Royal Dutch Shell has revealed its new biogasoline plant in the US is running smoothly.

Launched in conjunction with Virent Energy Systems, the Wisconsin-based facility is the first in the world to demonstrate how plant sugars can be converted into gasoline and its components.

According to Shell, the biofuel can then be blended with gasoline in high concentrations and used in normal engines, eradicating the need for specific infrastructure or modifications.

Vice-president of alternative energies at the organisation Luis Scoffone said the move is an "important milestone" for the sector.

He commented: "There is some way to go on the route to commercialisation, but we have been delighted with the speed of progress achieved by our collaboration."

Mr Scoffone added the start-up went exactly to plan - with both time and budget restrictions adhered to.

The natural resources giant recently announced a large oil find in the deepwater eastern Gulf of Mexico.