Russia’s attack on Ukraine has opened a huge opportunity for Canadian biomass production.

Mark Cooper is CEO of Prairie Clean Energy in Regina.

He has just returned from the ARGUS world biomass conference in England.

He was an exhibitor.

Prairie Clean energy is three years into a plan to process flax straw (and wood) for biomass fuel.

He says Russia and allies supplied about 3 million tons of pellets to the European heating market, but are now off the market because of an embargo.

Europe has imposed an embargo on many Russian products following the invasion of Ukraine.

Cooper says there was a lot of interest from European buyers and has put his company on the path to supply flax and wood pellets this year.

Prairie Clean proposes to procure flax straw in the Regina region this year while sites in or near Prince Albert appear likely for wood pelleting.

Cooper says “agro” flax pellets fit perfectly into the current sustainability and environmental discussion.

The Argus world conference on biomass concluded Friday in England.
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