Japan, one of the world’s leading paper producing countries, relies on imports for most of the woodchips to be used to produce paper. However, supply of woodchips is expected to be restricted globally in the future due to multiple reasons including forest preservation, and securing a stable supply of woodchips is becoming increasingly important. AMCEL plans to expand the planted area of eucalyptus from approximately 60,000 ha to approximately 70,000 ha and to increase its annual woodchip sales from about 500,000 BD tons (bone dry weight) to about 700,000 BD tons. Part of the woodchips produced by this project are planned to be imported to Japan for producing paper and as a biomass fuel, and the project is expected to contribute toward the long-term stable securing of woodchips. Also, Nippon Paper Industries plans to supply the woodchips manufactured by AMCEL to a biomass mono-fuel combustion power plant in Tomakomai-shi in Hokkaido, which will contribute toward preserving the global environment.
