New Zealand prime minister John Key has opened the country’s largest wood pellet fuel plant.
Solid Energy’s NZ$34m Taupo plant will initially produce up to 40,000 tonnes a year of pellets for the home and overseas markets.
The company also unveiled a three-year NZ$15m contract to supply the European utility sector. The first major shipment in the contract – 6,500 tonnes – is now being loaded at the Port of Napier.
Nature’s Flame branded wood pellets will also be exported to Italy for the home-heating market and to Japan.
“Our substantial plantation forestry resource means New Zealand has the potential to be a leading supplier of quality wood pellet fuel and we are confident that Nature’s Flame can compete very well in the premium end of this market,” said Don Edler, Solid Energy’s CEO.
