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I n c o r p o r a t i n g A U S T R A L A S I A N F O R E S T L O G G E R & S AW M I L L E R
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MAY 2017 • P: (03) 9888 4834 • www.timberbiz.com.au
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Altus Renewables at Tuan.
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The conveyor line from Hyne Timber to Altus.
Over-the-fence deal does a power of good for major businesses A
INSIDE
SIMPLE conveyor belt joins Hyne Timber's Tuan Mill and neighbouring Altus Renewables. Such is the way for efficient transformation of one plant's sustainable byproduct into another plant’s core business -- biofuel. It is certainly not unusual for large scale plantation softwood processing plants to exist as part of a supply chain hub and while each one of these hubs are unique, the manufacture of timber biofuel for clean, renewable energy production is common place. In this case, the timber by-product is compressed through a manufacturing process of its own into small pellets which are highly sought after in Japan and some European countries to fuel clean energy production in what were once entirely coal fuelled power stations. David Knight, Plant Manager of the Altus Renewables' 100,000 MT capacity pellet facility next to Hyne Timber near Maryborough, said their customers want durable pellets with high calorific value. "We essentially buy all the sawdust and shavings we can
get from over the fence at Hyne Timber. "Our plant then densifies the wood by-product including drying the timber to maximise fuel quality while making transport significantly more cost efficient. "Pellets are transported to the Bundaberg Port by trucks where they are stored in a dedicated building prior to being shipped to customers in Europe and Japan who will co-fire the pellets in their coal-fired power stations. "Well, at least that’s about 95% of our plants' pellets. The other 5% service domestic customers ranging from equestrian bedding, kitty litter to home heating solutions. "The latter continues to gain popularity in colder climates for the high heat, high efficiency with little ash and fumes, if any. Some heater systems re-burn their own fumes for added efficiency and environmental benefits," Mr Knight said. With products being shipped off overseas or bagged up for other domestic market needs, it’s hardly surprising that many locals don't know these two operations exist in the forest,
ew radial sawmill N becomes reality Page 3
collectively employing around 200 people directly, and hundreds more indirectly. David joked that he is often asked what he does for a living and when he replies, "we make pellets", people assume they make timber pallets for transportation. "Now, I tell people we make biofuel from timber. I might still have to explain that, but it makes for a more interesting conversation," Mr Knight concluded.
Hyne Timber was established in Maryborough in 1882 with the Tuan Mill, now one of the largest softwood processing plants in the Southern Hemisphere, established in 1985. The company employs around 570 people, 300 of whom are in the Fraser Coast Region alone, a region faced with higher than average unemployment rates. Altus Renewables, headquartered in
Loganholme, Queensland, is also in the process of working on a new 500,000 MT pellet plant project in the Green Triangle in South Australia. The plant near Maryborough is an example of advanced manufacturing, operating a clean, lean process supported by robotics and technology. Both Hyne Timber and Altus Renewables also fuel their own heat plants using timber biomass from sawdust or timber shavings.
ASH - Vic. Government stalemate continues THE AUSTRALIAN Sustainable Hardwoods/Victorian Government stoush over a long term log supply is currently in a state of limbo; the CFMEU continues to put pressure on politicians and the possibility of more talks remains just that ... a possibility! The official line from union is that discussions are continuing with the government and the company, however, there may be more developments soon as the union is scheduled to meet with all the workers on site. ASH’s Heyfield Mill workers still face job cuts from September with a planned closure next year.
$110 million plantation promise Page 8
ASH had been offered a 155,000 cubic metres per annum contract by VicForests from 2014 through to 2034. However, early this year VicForests said it was not authorised to offer any more than 80,000 cubic metres of log in 2017-18 and less than that in the following two years. “We have been forced into this position by the government. The only thing that will change this trajectory is if there is a new supply agreement offered by the government that is respectful of our business needs,” ASH CEO, Vince Hurley had told staff Continued on page 8
KIPT takes the next step establishing a future Page 12