Bankrupt VeraSun Energy Corp. will be allowed to get financing to keep its plant operational and its employees paid.

The U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Delaware ruled that the nation's second-largest ethanol producer can get $196.6 million in debtor-in-possession financing after it filed bankruptcy in October.

VeraSun says $93 million will be spent to keep ethanol plants in Fort Dodge, Hartley and Charles City operational, as well as a plant in Aurora, S.D., and to maintain an idle plant in Welcome, Minn.

The court also approved $24.5 million from a group of lenders, part of which the company says it will use to keep its facilities operable until mid-January.

VeraSun suffered significant losses in the third quarter after it locked into higher-than-market corn prices.