A small town in the northeastern Argentine province of Chaco has built a plant that transforms timber industry waste into renewable energy, with the support of the federal government. The processing plant in Presidencia de La Plaza is the first step towards a technological and industrial park geared to energy production from biomass.

This joint initiative of the municipal authorities and the federal government’s National Institute of Industrial Technology (INTI) aims to create employment while generating power at half the cost of fossil fuel power.

Emilio Scozzina of INTI told Tierramérica that the plant processes 500 kilos of compacted sawdust an hour, around 2,000 tons a year. He added that the municipal authorities provide the waste material at no cost “because they have a strong commitment to environmental conservation.