Project/activity information

The project will study and assess the feasibility of timber production for traditional market outlets and power generation in two major wood industry-centered cities located in the western Amazon region. The objective of the project is to demonstrate that conventional timber industries in conjunction with the power generation industry can make sustainable forest industry a viable option. This project proposes to look at the potential of power generation to absorb non-commercial lesser-used species and logging waste. At present these raw materials constitute the larger and non-economical share of wood material produced by sustainably managed forest areas in the Amazon region. The project will also cover wood residues at the mill site.

The project deals specifically with the technical difficulties that traditional wood processing industries have in using the hundreds of tropical timber species available for harvest when implementing appropriate forest management plans. The project will primarily examine traditional technology (high pressure steam for energy generation), but will also consider co-generation (heat and steam) and techniques for the gasification of wood waste.

To achieve the right policies and attract investment the project will study the economics of sustainable forest management for the combined production of timber for traditional wood-using industries and for power generation. These studies will include resource availability and supply potential; market opportunities; prospects for sustainable production from environmental, social and economic view points; appropriateness of government policies; overall investment environment; and carbon sequestration benefits. The project aims to facilitate and encourage the future development of demonstration power generation plants running on timber and timber waste as a means of increasing utilization efficiency and the reduction of losses and waste.