Drax Reached Full Production at Arkansas Satellite Pellet Plant

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster):  Drax Group announced that it is ramping up to full production at Leola satellite pellet plant in Arkansas. The company had earlier announced investment of $40 million in Arkansas towards construction of three satellite pellet plants. The Leola plant, now in operation, is the first among the three.

The pellet plant will use biomass sourced from sustainably managed working forests in Louisiana, Arkansas and Mississippi. The pellets from the plant will be used at Drax Power Station in England to generate renewable electricity. The conversion of the UK power station to biomass from coal has resulted in 90% reduction in emissions since 2012.

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Matt White, Executive Vice President-Pellet Operations, Drax Group noted that the commencement of operations at Leola marks the excellent progress in delivering its Arkansas investment. The three plants together will create around 30 direct jobs and many more indirect jobs and opportunities to Arkansas rural communities, in line with supporting international efforts to tackle climate change, he added.

The three plants together will produce around 120,000 tonnes per year of pellets from sawmill residues. This aligns with the company’s strategic plan to double its pellet production capacity to 8 million tonnes by 2030.

The second plant in Russellville, Pope County is currently under construction and is expected to be commissioned this year.