Finland-Komi bioenergy cooperation advances
The cooperation on bioenergy between Finland and the Russian Republic of Komi makes progress. An example of current efforts is the plan to convert Komi forest industries’ by-products into pellets.
Last year the Komi Ministry of Industry and Energy called for a Finnish entrepreneur or company to establish a pellet plant or a joint venture with Russian partner. In all, the Ministry aims to launch the building of 3-4 pellet plants in the area, the Finnish web site Energy Enviro writes. Finnish experts have now carried out a pre-project study on a pellet plant with an annual capasity of 75.000 tons.
There are more than 100 small or medium size sawmills in Komi’s main town Syktyvkar. Furthermore, one of the Europe’s largest pulp and paper plants is located in the area. Despite the huge excess of by-products including bark, sawdust and waste wood, only one pellet plant, located about 200 km from Syktyvkar, is operational in the area.
Read also: Komi Governor talked forestry with Putin
Bioenergy is a part of wider Finland-Komi cooperation that includes forestry and forest industry, energy efficiency, energy saving, fishing industry, tourism and a few other areas.
Like in many population centers of the Russian Federation, most municipal heating systems and a part of industrial units in Komi are powered by natural gas. But the price of gas has increased significantly, and is expected to increase further. Wood-based by-products such as bark, sawdust and waste wood from mechanical and chemical wood processing industries offer a huge energy resource in Komi.
