ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA, U.S. — CHS Inc. said on June 1 that it has acquired the Patriot Renewable Fuels ethanol plant from Patriot Holdings, LLC, in Annawan, Illinois, U.S.

The Annawan facility produces 125 million gallons of ethanol annually and is the second ethanol plant that CHS has purchased. In June 2014, CHS acquired the former Illinois River Energy plant at Rochelle, Illinois, U.S.

"CHS will pursue ethanol manufacturing ownership in strategic current and new geographies that allow us to add value for our owners across our ag business and energy enterprise from inputs to value-added fuel and feed ingredients to the marketplace," said Gary Anderson, CHS senior vice-president, North America grain marketing and renewable fuels.

Gene Griffith, Patriot Holdings, LLC, chairman, president and chief executive officer said CHS, was a marketer of the plant's distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) and ethanol products.

"CHS is the right fit to take this business to the next level," Griffith said. "The Patriot board of directors is confident that CHS is committed to continuing to grow the business, which bodes well for all suppliers delivering grain to the plant."

The facility will be rebranded as CHS. Its 68 employees will become CHS employees.