The company hopes to source oil seed rape from local farmers

A brownfield site at Seal Sands has been earmarked for the �25m complex by the Biofuels Corporation.

The company is expected to lodge a planning application with Stockton Council later this month.

The plant will develop renewable and greener fuels from crops such as oil seed rape.

The plant is expected to create about 75 new jobs - with 200 more people likely to find work transporting raw materials across the river at Teesport.

North East farmers could also reap the benefits as the company is interested in taking oil seed rape from local suppliers.

There is a wealth of skilled people living in the area who we can recruit to work in our complex John Nicholas, Biofuels Corporation

The oilseed would then be mixed with standard diesel to run standard car and truck engines with lower emissions and higher efficiency.

Earlier this year, John Nicholas, chief executive officer at the Biofuels Corporation, said: "Seals Sands has everything we could ask for.

"It is strategically located for excellent transport links and, of course, has a well developed chemicals infrastructure.

"It has a deepwater port on its doorstep and available storage.

"Most importantly, there is a wealth of skilled people living in the area who we can recruit to work in our complex."

If it goes ahead, the Seal Sands plant would be one of the most advanced of its kind in the world.

Work could start on site before the end of this year, with completion earmarked for late 2004.