Minister of Agriculture tours Balcas HQ

Balcas were delighted to have the opportunity to show the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, Michelle McIlveen MLA around our plant at Enniskillen today.

Sawmilling is a traditional industry that has been around for many centuries. Balcas, with backing and encouragement of the forest service, has built and grown the Enniskillen sawmill into a modern, internationally competitive facility.  Over the past ten years the business has further developed into renewable energy. In doing so, Balcas displaces 100 million of litres of heating oil and generates enough electricity to power every home in Fermanagh. Our brites wood pellet sales now exceed 200,000 tonnes annually. Combined, our activities provide for a net reduction in the UK annual CO₂ output of more than 300,000 tonnes.

Brian Murphy, Balcas CEO speaking at the meeting said;

“We are delighted to welcome Minister McIlveen to our plant in Fermanagh.  Our work here is a real-life manifestation of the way Government policy and private enterprise can interact so as to provide long term skilled jobs; whilst simultaneously contributing to rural prosperity and sustaining our environment.”

Following a very successful visit the Minister commented:

“What I have seen today here at Balcas is very impressive. Their development and integrated use of wood products produced by forests is the result of closer and innovative partnership working between Industry and Government. This is a clear example of what can be achieved, improving the economics of the forestry sector and underpinning sustainable development, especially in rural areas, and creating jobs for rural dwellers. Balcas are clearly at the forefront of generating renewable energy using wood fibre from forests to produce electricity for industrial consumption and supplying wood pellets for the domestic fuel market.

Photo: Brian Murphy CEO with Minister McIlveen MLA and Malcolm Beatty Chief Executive NI Forest Service.

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