Enviva to increase pellet production
The company considered sites in Alabama, Mississippi and North Carolina but with resources available in abundance, its close distance to ports and lots of skilled labour, the town of Ahoskie in Hertford County was the ideal location for Enviva.
Speaking about the location John Keppler, Enviva chairman and CEO, said, ‘The real benefit that we have there are the relationships with the timber owners and the loggers and forest industry professionals that have served the wood products industry for decades.’
Construction work has already begun and when it is completed the plant will produce 330,000 tonnes of wood pellets a year from 600,000 tonnes of raw wood supplies. 53 jobs will also be created.
The new plant comes after the company signed its largest contract to date with utility firm Electrabel earlier this year to supply 480,000 tonnes of wood pellets annually. As a result Enviva is looking to increase its output capacity.