Toloсhinsky and Bogushevsky forestry enterprises have launched pellet production facilities

August 18, Minsk / Tatiana Lobas - BELTA /. Pellet production facilities have been established at the Tolochin and Bogushevsk forestry enterprises (Vitebsk region), as reported to BELTA by Alexander Korbut, Head of the Production and Sales Department of the Ministry of Forestry. The establishment of these facilities was carried out in accordance with the State Program for Innovative Development of the Republic of Belarus, designed until 2010. Each project is estimated at Br1 billion. At the Bogushevsk forestry enterprise, an existing premises was reconstructed and equipment modernized to organize pellet production. At the Tolochin forestry enterprise, new equipment of Russian production was specially purchased. The capacity of each workshop allows for the production of 1 ton of pellets per hour, or up to 3 thousand tons per year. The first batches of pellets have already been highly appreciated by experts and prepared for export. By the way, each enterprise has implemented its own production technology. At the Bogushevsk forestry enterprise, fuel granules are made from sawdust, while at the Tolochin forestry enterprise, a technology for producing pellets from firewood has been applied for the first time in the republic. The opening of new workshops has created 12 new jobs. The organization of pellet production is beneficial for forestry enterprises, as it opens up new opportunities for increasing export volumes. The products are in high demand in Europe. Pellets are shipped to Germany, France, Spain, Belgium, and the Baltic countries. Two large pellet production facilities have been operating for two years at the Stolbtsy and Zhytkavichy forestry enterprises. In the first seven months of the current year, they exported over 3.5 thousand tons of products worth $400 thousand. Production facilities for fuel briquettes have also been organized at the Klichev, Ostrovets, and Zhytkavichy forestry enterprises. By the end of the year, a similar production facility will be commissioned at the Novogrudok forestry enterprise, and a pellet production enterprise will be opened at the Begoml forestry enterprise. In total, according to the State Program for Innovative Development of the Republic of Belarus, by the end of the year, 14 production facilities in various areas will be created in the forestry sector – for the production of fuel pellets and briquettes, fuel chips, split firewood, charcoal, and sawn timber. Br15.95 billion will be spent on the implementation of these innovative projects.