Biomass plant in Koura to begin operations

A biomass factory will start operating in Koura in early 2019. The plant will produce briquettes from pruning residues of olive groves and public forests.

The plant will be operated by the Koura Union of Municipalities with a staff of ten.

Investment in the project is around $900,000, of which $700,000 were funded by the European Union, and the remaining by the Koura Union of Municipalities.

Production capacity of the plant is around 750 tons of briquettes per year, to be produced from 1,000 tons of pruning residues.

“There are around three million olive trees in Koura. The pruning residues used to be burned on field, but in this way Koura and its region can benefit from it as a source of renewable energy,” said Karim Bou Karim, Chairman of the Union.

Briquettes are used for stoves instead of diesel or wood. The price per ton of briquettes is around $230.

The EU is working on similar projects in Jezzine and Akkar.