The nation's fledgling soybean industry has sunk its roots into the Illawarra, with a $243 million Australia-first soybean biodiesel plant to be built at Port Kembla within two years.Minister for Lands Tony Kelly yesterday announced planning approval for the facility, which will process soybeans and produce 288 million litres of clean fuel a year.Green credentials at the port soared with the announcement of the plant, which will equate to taking 187,000 cars off NSW roads each year. The news is even better for the region's growing legion of unemployed, with the development to create 500 jobs during construction and 235 permanent full-time jobs once complete."This is an exciting development for Wollongong that will breathe new life back into the port," Member for Wollongong Noreen Hay said."I'm delighted that it's come to this stage and it's going to mean 500 jobs in my electorate." Another 725 indirect jobs are expected to materialise on farms and in agricultural services, transport, logistics and silo operations.The minister expects the plant to be completed within two years - just in time to meet government targets."In July 2007 the NSW Government implemented legislation to mandate the blending of all diesel fuel blended with 2 per cent biodiesel. The mandate will increase from 2 per cent to 5 per cent in 2011," Mr Kelly said. "These mandates send a strong signal to biofuel producers and investors that the Rees government is committed to the development of a long-term, sustainable biofuels industry in NSW."National Biofuels chose Port Kembla for the development due to its potential for import and export activities, and for its transport connections with Sydney and regional NSW. It is also strategically well-placed to provide a form of soybean meal for southern NSW's expanding poultry industry.Soy biodiesel is a by-product of the soy protein manufacturing process and is made entirely from soybean oil. The development will form Australia's first integrated soybean processing and biodiesel production facility, although the National Biofuels Group subsidiary Rainbow Nation Renewable Fuels Ltd began developing a plant in South Africa 12 months ago. Much of the soybean processed at Port Kembla will be imported at first, although the development is intended to help build domestic supply to more than one million tonnes in its first year.National Biofuels said the operation is expected to generate $977 million in revenue in its first year.