Albania’s timber production from forests is mainly used for firewood. As the demand for wood biomass is expected to grow, CNVP is promoting its use as a source of renewable energy.

CNVP visited the Redi Pellet factory (Ardit Group) in Maliq, Korca Region on Friday, 16 February 2018 to understand better: how the company is producing pellets; from where it is sourcing its raw materials; and the opportunities for further development of wood biomass for renewable energy.

Since 2014, CNVP has cooperated with Redi Pellet to improve the value chain in renewable energy, as well as increase the capacities and awareness of stakeholders involved in the process. The company’s main concern currently is government’s moratorium on logging activities and the consequent decrease in wood residues to be used for pellet production. Increasing the plantation of fast growing species on and beyond the Korca plain is seen as a way of challenging restrictions associated with the moratorium, and contributing towards meeting the high demand for firewood.

In order to enhance the wood biomass value chain, CNVP is advising farmers and Redi Pellet (which has more than 4 years’ experience) to create small-scale plantations that combine crops and trees. One way is to plant fast growing species such as poplar along roads and water channels, a benefit of which will be the creation of shelterbelts on agricultural land. More than 20,000 poplar trees have been planted to date on Korca plain. This is expected to increase to 100,000 in the next two years.

The production of renewable energy from wood biomass using agro-forestry systems in lowland areas has a promising future. Lesson learnt and best practices have been documented and disseminated by CNVP, and can be used for lobbying and advocacy with which to improve the regulatory environment for the promotion and use of renewable energy.