Biomass sector takes step towards $300m plant

Biomass sector takes step towards $300m plant
Foresta plans to turn slash waste into coal replacement. (Image: Getty)
Ian Llewellyn
An Australian company’s plans to kick-start the biomass industry in New Zealand have moved forward with the leasing of a site in Kawerau in an industrial zone near extensive forestry plantations.ASX-listed Foresta intends to build NZ’s first industrial-scale plant to make biomass fuels to replace coal.On Thursday, it announced the signing of a 30-year lease (with a 20-year right of renewal) of the 9.6ha property with Putauaki Trust.The trust is owned by approximately 800 shareholders who are predominately descendants of Te Pahipoto...

More Primary Sector

Government to lower 2050 methane reduction target range
Primary Sector

Government to lower 2050 methane reduction target range

The Government is lowering its 2050 methane reduction target and confirming a review will take place in 2040 to assess whether New Zealand’s reduction efforts align with high-emissions countries.Cabinet will soon approve a new target range of 14–24% below 2017 methane emission le...

Wood industry unveils value-added plan to double exports
Primary Sector

Wood industry unveils value-added plan to double exports

There aren't enough trees in NZ to double timber export receipts with raw logs.

Greg Hurrell 10 Oct 2025
Why NZ's US tariff rates could rise on a whim
Primary Sector

Why NZ's US tariff rates could rise on a whim

NZ's trade surplus with the US is likely to go up. Donald Trump won't like that.

Greg Hurrell 09 Oct 2025
Dairy prices fall for fourth straight auction, whole milk powder down 2.3%
Primary Sector

Dairy prices fall for fourth straight auction, whole milk powder down 2.3%

Prices have slipped again in the latest Global Dairy Trade auction, held overnight on Tuesday, with a 1.6% dip across the board.This was the fourth consecutive decline, following a 0.8% slide at the previous auction, a 4.3% decrease before that, and a 0.3% drop on Aug 19.Whole mi...

Staff reporters 08 Oct 2025