Wood pellet industry expands in Georgia

Fram Renewable Fuels, a wood pellet producer in the U.S., has entered into an agreement with Telfair Forest Products to build a wood pellet manufacturing facility at TFP’s Lumber City, Ga., location. The facility is expected to produce approximately 125,000 metric tons of wood pellets annually in addition to TFP’s current shavings production. The procurement plan for this new venture will require up to 350,000 tons of raw material purchases per annum from the local area.

TFP is a recognized producer of premium quality pine shavings which have been utilized in the horse and animal bedding industry for many years. The addition of this pellet facility to the well established shavings plant will enhance the spectrum of products from TFP as well as diversify raw material utilization of the shavings plant. The pellet plant will employ approximately 25 people in an area with limited job opportunities. There is broad community support for the project.

In recent years, Fram Renewable Fuels has emerged as a reputable producer and leader in the wood pellet market. With European demand for pellets on the rise, Fram will place most of the production of the Lumber City facility with its existing European Union customers. Fram acknowledges that the European demand for wood pellets will continue to grow over the next 10 years and is committed to expanding with strategic partners to help meet that demand.

Construction on this project is expected to begin this month and start up is scheduled for January 2012. In the meantime, Fram intends to broaden its manufacturing capacities and is currently evaluating other sites in central Georgia for future wood pellet plant projects.