The production of pellets will be organized in 2009 in three forestry enterprises of the Vitebsk region

April 24, Vitebsk / Olga Bogacheva - BELTA /. Pellet production will be organized this year in the Surazh, Begoml and Tolochin forestry enterprises of the Vitebsk region, the Vitebsk Regional Production Forestry Association (PLHO) informed a BELTA correspondent. The decision to create new production facilities at these forestry enterprises was made for several reasons. Firstly, each of them has the necessary raw material base. A major modernization of the woodworking shop has been carried out at the Begoml forestry enterprise. Pellet production will help solve the issue of sawdust utilization, and for the Tolochin forestry enterprise, this product will become an alternative to firewood, which is sold poorly. Currently, projects are being developed for the organization of new production, the technical specifications of the necessary equipment are being clarified, its commissioning schedules are being coordinated, and the required investment volume is being calculated. Funds for the implementation of the projects will be allocated from the innovation fund of the Ministry of Forestry and the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee. Pellets (granules pressed from sawdust with a diameter of 8-10 mm) are widely popular as fuel in Germany, France, Holland, and other European countries. Therefore, the products of the Vitebsk region forestry enterprises will be export-oriented. Depending on the quality, it is planned to sell them for 80-90 euros per ton. The PLHO has no doubts about the demand for this product abroad: the successful experience of the Postavy Furniture Center in this area testifies to this. Today, it is the only enterprise in the region that produces and exports pellets. The association noted that in 2008, there was an attempt in the region to organize a joint venture with a Lithuanian company for pellet production at the Postavy forestry enterprise, which has all the necessary production facilities. However, due to the financial crisis, the Lithuanian company refused to participate in the project. If there is an investor willing to invest 400 thousand euros, the Vitebsk PLHO is ready to resume the project at any time. -0-