Feb 21 2011
Enviva, a leading manufacturer of processed biomass, today announced it has acquired a Chesapeake Va. port terminal from Giant Cement Company to meet with the increasing demand for renewable biomass overseas, especially in Europe.
Enviva will increase the terminal’s annual capacity to store, receive and load sustainably yielded woody biomass in surplus of 3 million tons, for export each year.
This acquisition will enable Enviva to closely monitor its product movement from the forest to plant to port, as the Chesapeake terminal will aid in shipping products from a biomass production plant near Ahoskie, N.C as well as a number of other plants, which are currently under construction. John Keppler, CEO of Enviva, stated that the strategic location of the terminal will decrease the expenditure and transportation time incurred throughout the supply chain, thereby improving Enviva’s environmental footprint.
During the initial phase of the terminal’s expansion, local employment will increase with the construction requiring around 40 to 60 skilled contractors and tradesmen, while within three years of operation, the permanent staff of 12 is likely to double. Upgrade of the Chesapeake site is likely to end by November 2011.
A variety of ships and loading options necessary for exporting more than 40,000 metric tons of wood pellets per vessel can be accommodated in the terminal. A section of the terminal will be used by Giant for its cement sales.