Drax Gets Satellite Pellet Plant Going
Drax Group is ramping up to full production at Leola—the first of three new satellite pellet plants it plans for Arkansas. Leola, in Grant County, is part of a $40 million investment by Drax in the state, creating approximately 30 new jobs across all the three sites planned for Arkansas as well as many more indirect jobs.
Including Leola, Drax operates six pellet plants in the U.S., which use biomass sourced from sustainably managed working forests in Louisiana, Arkansas and Mississippi. The three satellite plants in Arkansas are expected to produce a total of 120,000 tonnes of wood pellets per year from sawmill residues. This supports Drax’s plans to double its pellet production capacity to 8 million tonnes by 2030 to meet its own requirements, as well as its customers’ needs in Europe and Asia, amid an expected increase in global demand for the low-carbon fuel.
The satellite plants are located near sawmills, so they can use the sawdust and other byproducts. Construction of the second Arkansas satellite plant in Russellville, Pope County, is underway with commissioning expected this year. Drax is continuing to develop plans for a third plant.
The pellets produced at the new satellite plants will be transported to Bruce Oakley terminal in Little Rock, Ark. before being shipped south to Louisiana to oceangoing vessels. Each pellet plant is expected to produce 40kt per year.
Latest News
Canfor Southern Pine To Expand South Carolina Lumber Facility
Canfor Southern Pine To Expand South Carolina Lumber FacilityDue to increased global demand for southern yellow pine lumber, Canfor Southern Pine is expanding its existing operations in Darlington County. The $8 million investment is expected to generate 50 new jobs...
B.C. Sets New Records For Lumber Exports To China
After 10 months, the value of B.C.'s softwood lumber exports have broken a new record, Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations Minister Thomson announced today. To the end of October 2013, the value of total softwood lumber exports to China reached $1.17...
Chuck Roady, Five Others Appointed To Softwood Lumber Board
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has appointed six members to serve on the Softwood Lumber Board. Members will serve a three-year term of office beginning Jan. 1, 2014. New appointments include manufacturers Charles W. Roady, Columbia Falls, Mont., and Danny White,...
Find Us On Social
Newsletter
The monthly Timber Processing Industry Newsletter reaches over 4,000 mill owners and supervisors.
Subscribe/Renew
Timber Processing is delivered 10 times per year to subscribers who represent sawmill ownership, management and supervisory personnel and corporate executives. Subscriptions are FREE to qualified individuals.
Advertise
Complete the online form so we can direct you to the appropriate Sales Representative.