13.10.2008, 13:00
A new player is emerging on the Finnish pellet markets. L&T Biowatti has launched pellet manufacturing at its factory located in Luumäki, South Karelia. The factory will produce approximately 20,000 tons of wood pellets per year, sufficient to heat 4,000 detached houses.
The Luumäki pellet factory's production will diversify the range of pellets for sale in Finland. L&T Biowatti will open a new pellet factory next year, when the company's production facility under construction in Suonenjoki begins operating. The retail sale of pellets will begin at the turn of the year.
"Wood-based bio energy will play an important role when, along with other EU countries, Finland cuts its greenhouse gas emissions significantly in the next few years. We therefore believe that domestic demand for pellets will be high in the years to come," explains Kari Lahti, Area Director at L&T Biowatti.
In recent years, the popularity of pellets as fuel has steadily increased in Finland. Compared to oil, the pellet is an economical and environmentally friendly heating source. At the moment, wooden pellets are used in the heating of more than 10,000 detached houses, in addition to several thermal power plants around the country. Of those building new houses, more people have selected pellet heating than heating with oil.
"In Finland, greenhouse gas emissions from homes could be cut significantly by increasing the use of pellets as a heating source. It has been estimated that a considerable part of the total emission reduction within living, traffic, environmental care and farming to which Finland has committed itself by the year 2020 could be achieved if houses using oil for heating would transfer to pellets," says Kari Lahti.
It is possible for L&T Biowatti to increase its future production capacity at the Luumäki production plant. Employing four people, the factory uses by-products from the mechanical forest industry as its raw material.
Additional information:
Kari Lahti, Area Director, tel. +358 50 5988 490