Port Blakely’s move to in-forest biofuel recoveries

Andrew Cocking, Port Blakely’s South Island Regional Manager at last year’s Residues2Revenues event detailed the company’s progress and early innovation around extracting biofuel from their South Island forestry operations.

Trials on binwood recovery started back in 2018 with one of their hauler crews. In-forest chipping followed with cartage, storage, drying and chipping on skid sites within their forests and contracts for the biofuel set up with local companies. Residue recovery benefits include increased utilisation of forest residues, reduction of environmental risks, a reduction of slash on landings, productivity gains in establishment and compliance with NES PF and consents.

In this video, Andrew tells us a little bit more about the company’s journey to improve wood fibre extraction out of their forest estate and how their company is looking to best meet the current local demand for wood fibre.

Presentations from last week’s Residues2Revenues 2023 in-field chipping workshop and conference have this week being sent out to all event delegates. Images from the event can also be seen here.

And to show the company’s real ability to think outside the square, Mitch Cooke, Business Manager of Port Blakely NZ Essential Oils at last week’s wood residues event detailed the company’s vision to diversify their forest operations, going from initial sampling and testing and pre-feasibility studies back in 2018 to the construction, commissioning and now commercial production and sales of Douglas fir essential oils from one of their forests in North Otago.