Company history

1909
The region’s first drops of industrial ethanol are produced in the sulphite factory in Köpmanholmen, approximately 25 km south of Örnsköldsvik. This milestone became the catalyst for the development of industry expertise in the region, which has now been in development for close to 100 years.

1936
Mo and Domsjö AB (MoDo), from which SEKAB was later formed, establishes a new chlorine factory in Domsjö. With this, MoDo makes its entry into the world of chemical production.

1940
A new factory for the production of ethanol known as sulphite alcohol comes into operation at the Domsjö industrial site. The facility has a production capacity of approximately 6400 tonnes per year.

1983
The Swedish Ethanol Development Foundation (SSEU) is founded, with its head office in Örnsköldsvik. In 1999, the foundation is re-named BioAlcohol Fuel Foundation (BAFF). The foundation becomes the driving force behind the development and promotion of ethanol and ethanol fuel, and as such, lays the foundation for the establishment of SEKAB.

1985
SEKAB (Svensk Etanolkemi AB) was founded by Berol (50%) and MoDo (50%), based on the ethanol chemical operations, which started at the beginning of the World War II. An agreement with Union Carbide for the production of ethyl acetate helped spur the founding of the company.

1986
Ethanol begins to be used as fuel for two buses in Örnsköldsvik, and then a further 30 buses in Stockholm in 1989. In 1993, the City of Stockholm decides to further invest in ethanol buses. SEKAB provides the fuel.

 

1994
The first three ethanol-operated Ford Taurus FlexiFuel cars are introduced in Örnsköldsvik. SEKAB delivers E85. These three cars are followed by 50 more in 1995 and a further 300 the following year.

1997
Energicentrum Norr is founded with the purpose of managing the Ethanol Pilot Project (later named Etek Etanolteknik, and is today known as SEKAB E-Technology).

2003
Low blends of ethanol in petrol begins in Sweden. OK/Q8 supplements its 95-octane petrol with 5% ethanol.

2004
The Ethanol Pilot is inaugerated by Prime Minister Göran Persson and immediately draws a great deal of international attention.

2004
Saab BioPower is launched at SEKAB in Örnsköldsvik.

2005
The regional consortium acquires SEKAB from Akzo Nobel and Domsjö Factories.

2006
The new SEKAB group is formed. Etek and Svensk Etanolkemi AB are re-named SEKAB E-Technology and SEKAB BioFuels & Chemicals and become part of the SEKAB Group together with the two new companies SEKAB Industrial Development and SEKAB International.

2007
2007 goes down in history as the year the world wakes up to the threat of the climate change and oil dependency.  SEKAB expands in Europe and in East Africa.