With wood not able to be sold in China the alternative of it being used as biofuel can be good for woodlot owners
“The news (Newsdesk 8 July) that the export of logs to China is dropping off and harvesting of some trees for export is
unprofitable should result in woodlot owners looking to new outlets for their wood. Using the wood to make wood fuel is
one of those immediately available options – and it requires no research.” Says Brian Cox, Executive officer of the
Bioenergy Association.
It is reported that New Zealand logs are piling up on Chinese wharves as cheap, sawn timber makes its way by train into
the People's Republic from Russia and Scandinavia. Five million tonnes of logs, mostly from New Zealand are sitting on
wharves in China unsold.
‘The growing demand for wood fuel to replace coal and gas is a goldern opportunity for woodlot owners close to industry
requiring process heat to move their farm from being only a food producer, to being a food plus fuel producer. ” Mr Cox
said. “With large energy users such as Christchurch and Otago hospitals, Fonterra and DB Breweries transitioning to use
wood fuel means that for some farmers there is a potential revenue stream waiting fo them to pocket if they live near to
one of these sites.”
In addition farmers can use bioenergy as a tool for offsetting the biological emissions from their animals. The
BioenergyAssociation has identified that 1.8Mt CO2-e of greenhouse gases could be reduced by using wood fuel instead of
coal and gas.
Mr Cox said that “Using our logs within New Zealand for timber or fuel, instead of unprofitable exporting, should be on
ever tree growers radar so that their business resilience is improved.”
Ends