Power giant Vattenfall buys biomass from Africa

March 18, 2010 by timbercommunity

The power giant Vattenfall buys biomass from Buchanan Renewables Fuel Ltd. in Liberia according to a press release. Vattenfall is the largest company in Sweden based on turnover but has received criticism regarding the environmental work.

Now the company wants to buy biomass from discarded rubber trees in Liberia. Vattenfall has signed an agreement with Buchanan Renewables Fuel in Liberia for one million tonnes over a period of five years. The trees have been previously regarded as wastes and waste and burned on the fields. attenfall generates electricity, produces heat and supplies energy to several million customers in the Nordic countries and northern Europe.
 
Vattenfall vision is to create an international portfolio of biomass-suppliers since the availability of biomass in Europe is limited . As a first step in evaluating a potential supplier, Vattenfall has signed a supply agreement with Buchanan Renewables Fuel in Liberia.
 
Biomass has several advantages compared with fossil fuels, including: the large investments without replacing coal. The demand in Europe is limited to meet a growing demand of import. In order to secure long-term supply of biomass Waterfall creates an international portfolio of biomass-contractors and various sources. One fuel that is interesting is discarded rubber trees from plantations in Liberia.
 
-The trees have been previously regarded as waste and burned on the fields. By instead making fuel chips of the old trees may be paid the peasants and the trees will benefit. For Liberia, it is extremely important to renew the rubber industry and increase production"says Göran Lundgren, Head of Vattenfall biomass venture.
 
The deal also includes two diesel generators which is based on biodiesel and moving down to Liberia. Generators have previously been used as backup on the island Gotland, but will now be more than double the electricity supply in the Liberian capital of Monrovia.
 
- We are well aware of the challenges but is impressed by Buchanan Renewables Fuels and know that the government of Liberia is very supportive of the deal, which they see as the beginning of a new export market, "says Göran Lundgren. For biomass to reduce carbon footprint than fossil fuels requires that the carbon dioxide released during combustion is taken up by growing biomass. In Liberia, Buchanan Renewables Fuel responsible for the replanting of rubber trees. Buchanan Renewables Fuel is owned by the McCall MacBain Foundation, which supports the construction work of Liberia in several areas, including health care and education.