BRUSSELS, March 19 /PRNewswire/ -- Swedish bioenergy company SEKAB was presented the prestigious Sustainable Bioethanol Award for its development of verified sustainable ethanol and the technology for bioethanol based on cellulose at an event in Brussels including the world's foremost leaders in biofuels.

This prestigious recognition is a welcome acknowledgement of the efforts SEKAB has made to drive development of the sustainability criteria for ethanol and for the entire activities of the company, says Anders Fredriksson, President of SEKAB Biofuels Chemicals.

A British company, Green Power Conferences, lies behind the prize, which was awarded for the first time at the 2009 World Biofuels Markets Conference and Exhibition in Brussels. An independent jury comprising seven international researchers and scientists were responsible for the choice of SEKAB in the bioethanol category from a number of nominated companies.

We have created the award in order to promote the tangible benefits of biofuel and to encourage additional focus on sustainability criteria throughout the biofuels value chain, says Nadim Chaudhry, Managing Director of Green Power Conferences.

The jury members independently voted on the company they believe creates the maximum benefits when it comes to sustainability as measured by greenhouse gas savings, reduced environmental impact and for the social responsibility shown by the operations and technology of the nominee.

It is worth a lot that our long and consequent work on sustainability issues and the development of technology for cellulosic ethanol is honoured in this way, says Sune Wannstrom, head of research at SEKAB.

Two additional prizes were awarded - one to the UK's Agent Energy for sustainable biodiesel and one to the US's PetroAlgea for sustainable technology for algae-based biodiesel.

SEKAB has a core business with green chemicals and diesel replacements based on ethanol. The company is also a world leader in development of technology and production processes for ethanol from cellulose, with a pilot plant in operation since 2004. Its main office and pilot plant are in Ornskoldsvik, Sweden. The company's goal is to create the prerequisites for - and actively contribute towards - tomorrow's sustainable transports with the help of long-term sustainable alternative fuels.

For more information, please contact: Kristina Nilsson, communications manager, SEKAB, +46-70-274 9901 , E-post: kristina.nilsson@sekab.com