Bel Group has inaugurated a new biomass boiler at its Ulzama production site in Iraizoz, Navarra in Spain, alongside announcing a €1.5 million expansion of the facility.
The ceremony was attended by Navarra’s Minister of Industry and Ecological and Digital Business Transition, Mikel Irujo; Bel Group’s Chief Operations Officer, Stéphane Dupays; and Bel Ulzama Plant Manager, Iñigo Purroy, joined by representatives from local institutions, industry partners, and Bel employees.
Biomass milestone strengthens decarbonisation roadmap
The newly installed biomass boiler, developed by BKTECH and fuelled by locally sourced pellets from Naparpellet, replaces fossil fuels in the plant’s steam generation system.
With 700 kW of power and an efficiency rate above 90%, it will supply 100% of the site’s steam needs and reduce annual CO₂ emissions by around 500 tonnes.
The €700,000 project enables the Ulzama facility to run entirely on renewable energy, including certified green electricity and on-site photovoltaic panels.
Ulzama is now Bel’s second international site to adopt biomass technology after Tangier, Morocco and the fifth worldwide.
It is also the Group’s first factory equipped with a pellet-based system, which Bel describes as a proof of concept supporting its Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) 1.5°C commitments.
Bel says the installation forms part of its wider plan to achieve carbon-neutral factories by 2025, with further pellet biomass projects already under way in France.
€1.5m expansion to boost capacity
Alongside the boiler opening, Bel announced a €1.5 million investment to expand the Ulzama site with a 600 m² building housing two new packaging lines.
The upgrade will increase production capacity by 15%, enabling the plant to reach nearly 7,000 tonnes of The Laughing Cow portions annually — the equivalent of around 500 million portions.
The new lines are expected to be operational in the first half of 2026.
Bel says the investment supports its long-term growth strategy in Spain, strengthening local operations while contributing to the development of healthier snacking options.
Leaders highlight sustainability focus
Stéphane Dupays, COO of Bel Group, said the two projects showed how “sustainability and profitability advance together,” describing Ulzama as “a perfect example of how our sustainability commitments go hand in hand with industrial performance and local development.”
Plant Manager Iñigo Purroy called the biomass system “a technical success” that meets the plant’s thermal needs “without relying on fossil fuels.”
Navarra’s Industry Minister Mikel Irujo praised the project as a model for regional decarbonisation, emphasising the importance of clean energy and reduced waste in achieving “an engaged, self-sufficient, and responsible Navarra.”
John Robinson, Director of BKTech France, added that the company was proud to support Bel’s “advanced decarbonisation efforts” and contribute to Europe’s green transition.
Bel Group unveils biomass boiler and Ulzama plant expansion
