Nature’s Flame ends production- Rolleston wood pellet plant

Nature’s Flame ceases production at Rolleston wood pellet plant

Nature’s Flame, a Solid Energy business, has ceased wood pellet production at its Rolleston plant. The move does not impact on either the supply or pricing of Nature’s Flame wood pellets in the South Island.

Kerry Ellem, Nature’s Flame General Manager, says fuel from the Rolleston plant has for several years been supplemented by pellets made at the company’s North Island plants at Taupo and Rotorua. “Our distribution lines to South Island fuel retailers are well established, with a variety of transport modes,” he says. “Nature’s Flame is confident there is no risk to continued supply.”

Rolleston is the company’s oldest and smallest manufacturing plant and it does not make economic sense to upgrade it, Mr Ellem says. Substantial investment would be needed to maintain the plant’s reliability and health and safety standards and this could not be justified in a region where forestry was dwindling.

“Pine forestry is no longer a big industry in Canterbury. Land-use projections show that plantation forestry here and in the neighbouring provinces on the east coast will continue to shrink. Rolleston’s supplies of pinewood residues from sawmilling and timber manufacturing have been shrinking for some time, making our primary feedstock harder and more expensive to source and transport to the Rolleston plant.

“Our North Island plants are more modern, larger, and certified to produce pellets to the highest international export quality,” Mr Ellem says. “They are also right alongside the country’s largest concentration of plantation forestry and timber processing and, in terms of capacity, are more than capable of meeting any increase in fuel demand from New Zealand customers.”

Nature’s Flame’s decision to cease production at Rolleston followed a comprehensive review of the operation.

ENDS

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