Idle leased land to supply biofuel

IDLE leased land at Nabou, midway between Sigatoka and Nadi, will be used to generate biomass fuel for Nabou Green Energy Limited.

This has been agreed to under a deal signed between Fiji Pine Limited, Tropik Wood Industries Limited and Nabou Green Energy Pte Limited to utilise native land near the plant.

Forestry Minister Alitia Bainivalu said Fiji’s commitment to sustainable energy and forest management would be enhanced in the coming years with the partnership designed to accelerate the development of the biofuel industry.

“Together, Fiji Pine Limited and Nabou Green Energy will develop and manage fuelwood plantations on idle leased land in Nabou,” Ms Bainivalu said.

“The initiative is geared towards establishing a stable, long-term renewable fuel supply chain, which aligns with Fiji’s national renewable energy policy.”

Ms Bainivalu said Fiji Pine Limited would commence a fuelwood plantation program focused on fast-growing tree species.

“With an initial pilot project set on 50 hectares starting this year, the ultimate aim is to produce a target of 150,000 tonnes of fuelwood annually. Nabou Green Energy will purchase all harvested fuelwood, ensuring a reliable and consistent supply, and will facilitate logistics for the fuelwood transportation to the power plant.”

Ms Bainivalu said Nabou Green Energy and Tropik Wood Industries would also engage in an exchange of technical knowledge and operational expertise to optimise the performance of the company’s biomass power plants, reduce operational costs and ensure their energy production goals were met.

Fiji Pine Group executive chairman Ratu Rakuita Vakalalabure said green fuel and biomass practices would be important, especially with the Government’s commitment to sustainable energy.

“Fiji Pine is happy to support from a commercial perspective because it’s good business for us, and a whole good initiative for our landowners because we can harvest every five years and also pay them stumpage every five years rather than wait for a full crop of pine,” Ratu Rakuita said.

“Commercially, it’s a very viable activity and we’re happy to partner with Nabou Green Energy on this.”

Nabou Green Energy Pte Ltd CEO Seong Min Kim said he was pleased with the partnership.

“Compared to diesel power, which is much more expensive, biomass power is the way to go. It will also boost the local economy, especially for landowners,” Mr Kim said.