Rentech Announces Achievement of Critical Milestone in Synthetic Jet Fuel Certification

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Rentech, Inc. (NYSE AMEX:RTK) announced today that the aviation fuels subcommittee of ASTM International, the standards development organization, yesterday passed specifications for synthetic jet fuel for commercial aviation use. The new jet fuel specification, once issued, will enable the use of fuels from the Fischer-Tropsch process, including Rentech’s RenJet^® synthetic jet fuel.

“Rentech is pleased by ASTM International’s progress on certifying synthetic fuels. With the subcommittee’s approval, RenJet® is one step away from regulatory acceptance and use by commercial aviation.”

The subcommittee’s passage sets the stage for final approval and certification of synthetic jet fuel specifications by the ASTM International’s full governance committee, expected to occur this fall. Acceptance by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will occur as part of the ASTM process. The specification calls for a 50/50 blend of synthetic Fischer-Tropsch fuels and petroleum-derived fuels.

Once approved, fuels produced from the Fischer-Tropsch process, including RenJet^® produced from renewable and fossil feedstocks, will be the first and currently only non-petroleum derived jet fuel certified for use by commercial aircraft. Rentech’s Product Demonstration Unit currently produces jet fuel that, when blended with petroleum-derived fuel, meets the ASTM International specifications passed by the subcommittee.

D. Hunt Ramsbottom, President and Chief Executive Officer of Rentech, stated, “Rentech is pleased by ASTM International’s progress on certifying synthetic fuels. With the subcommittee’s approval, RenJet^® is one step away from regulatory acceptance and use by commercial aviation.” Mr. Ramsbottom continued, “Rentech was the only U.S.-based producer of Fischer-Tropsch fuels to participate in the CAAFI team that expedited subcommittee approval.”

Richard Altman, Executive Director of the Commercial Aviation Alternative Fuels Initiative (CAAFI), stated, “The achievement of this landmark passage of the first non-petroleum derived jet fuel by the ASTM could not have been achieved without Rentech’s participation and leadership. Rentech supplied guidance, data and its jet fuel during the development of the specifications process for synthetic jet fuel. We look forward to the full committee's approval of synthetic jet fuel this fall.”

According to the International Air Transport Association, global commercial aviation fuel consumption was 71 billion gallons in 2007. In recommending the specifications of synthetic fuel for approval by ASTM International, the subcommittee completed an exhaustive review of the fuels during a two-year process, drawing from independent testing data and results from U.S. Air Force laboratory and flight tests. The U.S. Air Force has already certified synthetic fuels from the Fischer-Tropsch process, including RenJet^®, for use in most of its aircraft.

CAAFI's statement on the fuel specification passage is accessible at www.caafi.org.

About Rentech, Inc.

Rentech, Inc. (www.rentechinc.com), incorporated in 1981, provides clean energy solutions. The Rentech Process is a patented and proprietary technology that converts synthesis gas from biomass and fossil resources into hydrocarbons that can be processed and upgraded into ultra-clean synthetic fuels, specialty waxes and chemicals. Rentech Energy Midwest Corporation, the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary, manufactures and sells fertilizer products including ammonia, urea ammonia nitrate, urea granule and urea solution to the corn-belt region.

Safe Harbor

This press release contains forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 about matters such as the certification and qualification of RenJet^® for use in commercial aircraft. These statements are based on management's current expectations and actual results may differ materially as a result of various risks and uncertainties. Other factors that could cause actual results to differ from those reflected in the forward-looking statements include changes by the ASTM International’s full governance committee and those of synthetic jet specifications set forth in the Company's press releases and periodic public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which are available via Rentech's web site at www.rentechinc.com. The forward-looking statements in this press release are made as of the date of this release, and Rentech does not undertake to revise or update these forward-looking statements, except to the extent that it is required to do so under applicable law.

For more information

Please contact: Julie Dawoodjee, Vice President of Investor Relations and Communications, Rentech, Inc. at 310-571-9800, extension 341, or by email at [e-mail].