In the distance of 242 km from Riga, 685 km from Moscow, and 450 km from St.Petersburg at the cross of two significant lines of communication, namely motorways and railways of Riga-Moscow and St.Petersburg-Warsaw, lies the 7th largest city of Latvia – Rezekne, where Rezekne Special Economic Zone (RSEZ) has been launched and consists of 18 commercial enterprises.
Since 2010 the pellet plant of SIA “NewFuels” has been operating here and now has become the largest producer of wood pellets in Latvia. The pellet plant currently has a production capacity of circa 240 000 metric tons per annum.
In 2015 an ambitious expansion was carried out thus doubling the plant’s capacity as well as providing the possibility for NewFuels to produce both industrial and household pellets. The Plant has been 100% financed from foreign investment, which to date totals 3 557 179 EUR. This investment is currently one of the largest investments made in Latgale region.
SIA “NewFuels” RSEZ carries out its activities in accordance with the highest industry requirements and has received all necessary quality certificates – SBP (Sustainable Biomass Program), EnPlus A, GGL (Green Gold Label) and FSC® (Forest Stewardship Council, FSC-C131356).
Address: Atbrīvošanas aleja 169a, Rēzekne, LV-4604, Latvia.
The aim of the plant is to produce ecologically clean and economically reasonable source of energy using the forestry residues in its production.
The technological process starts by sorting the hardwood and softwood. After that the firewood passes through a chipper and is turned into chips which further are flaked and purified from contamination. Then this material is delivered to one of two dryers in order to remove excess moisture prior to pressing into pellets. Chips from forestry residues are also used in the furnace to produce heat for the drying. After passing through various technological processes the material arrives at the pelletizers and is pressed into pellets with a circumference of either 6 mm or 8 mm pellets.
The chipper – CBI Magnum Force (42 tons) has been purchased from „Continental Biomass Industries, Inc.” (USA). It is powered by an electrical motor with 800 KW and has a capacity of 300m3 of chips per hour.
The producer of the flaker is German company “Maier” and total capacity of flakers provides the preparation of high quality raw material for entire production.
The supplier of almost 100 m long belt dryer is “Swiss Combi” (Switzerland) and its capacity reaches up to 14 t/h of dried material. The heat is provided by related company SIA “Energy Resources CHP” RSEZ biomass cogeneration plant.
The rotary drying drum – supplied by „Vandenbroek International” (the Netherlands) with a processing capacity of up to 17 tons of dry material per hour. The required level of heat is being supplied by NewFuels’ 17 MW biomass furnace.
The furnace – was supplied by „Järnforsen Energy System AB” (Sweden).
The pelletizers were supplied by CPM (California Pellet Mills). The main equipment is connected with PST conveyors. The plant currently operates with two separate lines and total pellet production capacity is up to 33 tons of wood pellets per hour.
The equipment of NEDERMAN and MORILLON is also involved in the production.
The plant corresponds with the highest fire safety requirements: the plant is equipped with the systems of FIREFLY and BUTTNER.
Front loaders and grab handlers VOLVO and LIEBHERR are involved and truck SCANIA is used for moving the material.
The company directly employs 61 people at the “NewFuels” and 11 people at the “Energy Resources CHP”. It supports many other local businesses who benefit from the activity of pellet plant by either being involved in the supply of raw material or the provision of various other commercial related services.
“NewFuels” RSEZ SIA company got the honoured 1st place in the category “Exporting Company” of Latvia in 2017 in the competition “Export and Innovation Award 2017”! Together with the main prize we also received the certificate for using the logo of the competition for the marketing purpose.