18. Subsequent Events	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2012
Subsequent Events [Abstract]
18. Subsequent Events	18. Subsequent Events Issuance of Related Party and Subordinated Promissory Notes On January 14, 2013, Laird Cagan loaned $106,201 through a Promissory note maturing on April 30, 2013 with a 5 percent annualized interest rate and the right to exercise 53,101 warrants exercisable at $0.001 per share. On January 24, 2013, an additional $300,000 in David Lies Promissory Notes were issued with 150,000 warrants at $0.001 per share and 5 percent annual interest rate due April 30, 2013. Keyes plant idles corn grinding and prepares to plant to produce advanced biofuels On January 15, 2013, the Company took the strategic step to idle corn grinding and ethanol production activities at its Keyes, California plant due to the current unfavorable market conditions for corn ethanol production while it undertakes efforts expected to result in the restart of the plant as an advanced biofuel producer, if commodity prices indicate this strategy produces positive margins. This action is in keeping with the Company’s plan to move to advanced biofuel feedstocks and inputs using a recently approved milo/biogas EPA pathway for a significant portion of its operational capacity. If market conditions change, the Company plans to use corn and milo or a mixture of the two commodities to generate the most favorable margin. USB Settlement On January 15, 2013, Aemetis reached a settlement with UBS for $2.25 million in cash payments over time for investment banking services provided as part of the Cilion merger transaction. The full amount of the settlement has been fully accrued as of December 31, 2012. Third Eye Capital Debt $3.1 Million and $2 Million Working Capital Draw Agreements On February 27, 2013, Third Eye Capital agreed to the Limited Waiver and Amendment No. 2 to (i) provide a Notional Paydown by pledging addition collateral on the Revolving Portion of the Revolving Notes in the amount of $3,100,000, such Notional Paydown was replaced in the Limited Waiver and Amendment No. 3 with an increase in the Revolver Note and the collateral substitution of a pledge of 6,231,159 shares of stock held by McAfee Capital LLC (ii) grant waivers to the Borrowers’ obligation to pay or comply, including financial and production covenants for the quarter ended March 31 and June 30, 2013; (iii) extend the date of the next interest payment until the earlier of certain events described in the Limited Waiver or May 1, 2013, and (iv) allow the Borrowers to pay the Partial Amendment Fee of $1,000,000 due January 1, 2013 in shares of the Company’s common stock. In consideration for the amendment, the Company agreed to: (i) pay a waiver fee comprised of $1,500,000 and (ii) issue to 750,000 common shares of the Company. In addition, the interest rate on all outstanding indebtedness with Third Eye Capital increases 5% until certain conditions are met. On April 15, 2013, Third Eye Capital agreed to the Limited Waiver and Amendment No. 3 to waive the following covenants of the Borrower in their entirety: (i) Borrowers’ obligation to obtain an NASDAQ listing by April 1, 2013; (ii) Borrower’s obligation to cause the Chairman to enter into certain agreements; and (iii) the Company’s obligation to deliver an auditor opinion as of and for the period ended December 31, 2012 without a going concern qualification. In addition, the Administrative Agent agreed to (i) extend the completion date of the conversion of the Keyes Plant to accommodate an 80:20 corn-to-milo ratio to May 31, 2013, (ii) amend the redemption provision in the event of an equity offering of Capital Stock up to $7,000,000, and (iii) increase the balance of the Revolving Credit Facility by an amount equal to the February 2013 $3.1 million advance and the $1.5 million waiver fee. In consideration for the Limited Waiver and Amendment, the Company agreed to: (i) pay a waiver fee comprised of $500,000 (which is added to the outstanding principal balance of the Revolving Notes) and (ii) require McAfee Capital, LLC to pledge an additional 6,231,159 Common Shares of the Parent to Agent, together with the delivery of stock certificates for such shares and stock powers. The $3.1 million advance, together with all accumulated interest, shall be repaid in full no later than September 30, 2013. On April 15, 2013, Third Eye Capital also arranged a Special Bridge Advance providing additional borrowings of $2,000,000 with the same terms as the existing Revolving Credit Facility, subject to customary closing conditions . In consideration for the Special Bridge Advance, the Company agreed to (i) pay the Lender a placement fee of $300,000 and (ii) issue the Lender 1,000,000 shares of common stock of Aemetis, Inc. The Special Bridge Advance is secured by a blanket lien on the assets of Eric A. McAfee, the Company’s CEO and Chairman of the Board.

18. Subsequent Events

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

18. Subsequent Events

Issuance of Related Party and Subordinated Promissory Notes

On January 14, 2013, Laird Cagan loaned $106,201 through a Promissory note maturing on April 30, 2013 with a 5 percent annualized interest rate and the right to exercise 53,101 warrants exercisable at $0.001 per share. On January 24, 2013, an additional $300,000 in David Lies Promissory Notes were issued with 150,000 warrants at $0.001 per share and 5 percent annual interest rate due April 30, 2013.

Keyes plant idles corn grinding and prepares to plant to produce advanced biofuels

On January 15, 2013, the Company took the strategic step to idle corn grinding and ethanol production activities at its Keyes, California plant due to the current unfavorable market conditions for corn ethanol production while it undertakes efforts expected to result in the restart of the plant as an advanced biofuel producer, if commodity prices indicate this strategy produces positive margins. This action is in keeping with the Company’s plan to move to advanced biofuel feedstocks and inputs using a recently approved milo/biogas EPA pathway for a significant portion of its operational capacity. If market conditions change, the Company plans to use corn and milo or a mixture of the two commodities to generate the most favorable margin.

USB Settlement

On January 15, 2013, Aemetis reached a settlement with UBS for $2.25 million in cash payments over time for investment banking services provided as part of the Cilion merger transaction. The full amount of the settlement has been fully accrued as of December 31, 2012.

Third Eye Capital Debt $3.1 Million and $2 Million Working Capital Draw Agreements

On February 27, 2013, Third Eye Capital agreed to the Limited Waiver and Amendment No. 2 to (i) provide a Notional Paydown by pledging addition collateral on the Revolving Portion of the Revolving Notes in the amount of $3,100,000, such Notional Paydown was replaced in the Limited Waiver and Amendment No. 3 with an increase in the Revolver Note and the collateral substitution of a pledge of 6,231,159 shares of stock held by McAfee Capital LLC (ii) grant waivers to the Borrowers’ obligation to pay or comply, including financial and production covenants for the quarter ended March 31 and June 30, 2013; (iii) extend the date of the next interest payment until the earlier of certain events described in the Limited Waiver or May 1, 2013, and (iv) allow the Borrowers to pay the Partial Amendment Fee of $1,000,000 due January 1, 2013 in shares of the Company’s common stock. In consideration for the amendment, the Company agreed to: (i) pay a waiver fee comprised of $1,500,000 and (ii) issue to 750,000 common shares of the Company. In addition, the interest rate on all outstanding indebtedness with Third Eye Capital increases 5% until certain conditions are met.

On April 15, 2013, Third Eye Capital agreed to the Limited Waiver and Amendment No. 3 to waive the following covenants of the Borrower in their entirety: (i) Borrowers’ obligation to obtain an NASDAQ listing by April 1, 2013; (ii) Borrower’s obligation to cause the Chairman to enter into certain agreements; and (iii) the Company’s obligation to deliver an auditor opinion as of and for the period ended December 31, 2012 without a going concern qualification. In addition, the Administrative Agent agreed to (i) extend the completion date of the conversion of the Keyes Plant to accommodate an 80:20 corn-to-milo ratio to May 31, 2013, (ii) amend the redemption provision in the event of an equity offering of Capital Stock up to $7,000,000, and (iii) increase the balance of the Revolving Credit Facility by an amount equal to the February 2013 $3.1 million advance and the $1.5 million waiver fee. In consideration for the Limited Waiver and Amendment, the Company agreed to: (i) pay a waiver fee comprised of $500,000 (which is added to the outstanding principal balance of the Revolving Notes) and (ii) require McAfee Capital, LLC to pledge an additional 6,231,159 Common Shares of the Parent to Agent, together with the delivery of stock certificates for such shares and stock powers. The $3.1 million advance, together with all accumulated interest, shall be repaid in full no later than September 30, 2013.

On April 15, 2013, Third Eye Capital also arranged a Special Bridge Advance providing additional borrowings of $2,000,000 with the same terms as the existing Revolving Credit Facility, subject to customary closing conditions . In consideration for the Special Bridge Advance, the Company agreed to (i) pay the Lender a placement fee of $300,000 and (ii) issue the Lender 1,000,000 shares of common stock of Aemetis, Inc. The Special Bridge Advance is secured by a blanket lien on the assets of Eric A. McAfee, the Company’s CEO and Chairman of the Board.