9.7.2009, 10:00
The energy wood trade has remained busy in Finland, although the wood trade has been experiencing a slack period in the past few months. Especially young forest energy wood procurement in the form of standing sale and forest services sales have increased. This is important from a public service security point of view, as branch and stump material do not reach the market as it normally would. Last year’s forest chip usage reached an all time high of 4,6 million square metres. Energy wood from young forests will determine the future development trends for the use of forest chips.
”Forest owners are clearly becoming more interested in energy wood. Energy wood harvesting is increasingly being considered a good solution in terms of forest care and a way of obtaining extra forest ownership-based income. Now we must make sure that the positive development for energy wood does not remain just a zip. Challenges can be expected already towards the end of the year, as there are signs that energy producers are preparing themselves for intensive fossil fuel usage”, says Tomi Salo, Forestry Services Director at L&T Biowatti.
Increased us of forest energy has been identified as a central means to be implemented as a part of Finland’s climate strategy, where a target of 12 million square metres has been set for forest chip use in 2020. In practice, this would be threefold compared to our present usage.
”The target is extremely challenging and we will not be able to reach it at present pace. There are still competition obstacles to be pulled down in order to have the positive development continue. In practice, in order to give all players equal chances to compete, information about forest resources must be made public with the consent of forest owners. Stimulating the industry by way of improved possibilities to use forest resources information does not call for millions in investment – it is a matter of will. If the Forestry Centres controlled by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry would take up the task, demand and supply can meet and wood reserves can be moved starting in early autumn. In this situation, no one should be able to say that the time is not right for moving wood reserves, says Tomi Salo.
Additional information:
Tomi Salo, Forestry Services Director, L&T Biowatti, tel. +358 50 385 0330
www.biowatti.fi