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Drax Idling Operations In Arkansas

Drax has made the decision to cease operations and idle pellet plant facilities in Leola and Russellville, Ark. The plants will cease operations and idle beginning November 1, 2025; operations at other U.S. sites will remain unaffected.

“Our top priority is to operate responsibly and efficiently, and this includes making hard decisions when the data clearly shows that continuing certain operations is no longer viable,” says Matt White, Drax Executive Vice President of Pellet Operations. “While we are ceasing operations and idling our Arkansas plants, we will keep purchasing wood fiber from Arkansas landowners and businesses, keeping Drax involved in the Arkansas economy and maintaining our role in the local forest industry.”

Drax leadership is implementing a comprehensive support plan for the 16 employees affected—including a severance package based on length of service and position, as well as opportunities for reemployment within the company, where possible. Drax is also partnering with local agencies and employers to connect workers with new employment opportunities.

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