On Monday last, Taoiseach Enda Kenny opened a new biomass facility at Aurivo Co-op’s Dairy Ingredients plant in Ballaghaderreen, Co Roscommon.

The €5.25m investment by Aurivo will reduce the site’s dependence on heavy fuel oil by 70% and the carbon emissions of the site by 50%. In the coming years, the plant will be upgraded to a CHP (Combined Heat and Power) plant and electricity will be supplied to the national grid from the site.

The plant will be powered by woodchip. About 30,000 tonnes will be used each year and will be sourced from Aurivo’s subsidiary company, ECC Teoranta in Corr na Mona, Galway.

The plant was commissioned through a joint venture with HDS Engineering, based in Kells in Co Meath.

Speaking at the opening, An Taoiseach said: “I’m delighted to open Aurivo’s state-of-the-art biomass facility at its dairy ingredients plant in Ballaghaderreen.

“Fuelled by Irish biomass, projects such as this will lessen our dependence on imported fossil fuels.

He added: “Our agri-food industry needs to stay innovative if we are to keep Irish exports strong. Initiatives such as this to support Aurivo’s growing dairy business will ensure the supply of quality employment across the west and northwest of Ireland.”

Aaron Forde, chief executive of Aurivo, said: “This is a prime example of innovation at work at Aurivo to support the business’s ambitious growth and export plans in the post-milk quota era.”

He added: “Our milk suppliers, based across 12 counties, forecast increasing supply by over 20% after the ending of milk quota.

“With the heavy burden of energy costs impacting business performance across Ireland, the facility opening today greatly helps Aurivo on its path to sustained international growth.”