Foresta welcomes Government support for Kawerau plant
30 October 2025
[by Diane McCarthy, Local Democracy Reporter]
A $9 million Government boost to wood energy production has been welcomed by a company with its sights set on building a torrefied wood pellet plant in Kawerau.
>Minister for Energy Simon Watts announced a Wood Energy Strategy and Action Plan last week.
In line with the plan, the Government is offering $3 million in co-funding via the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority and $6 million in repayable grants to businesses looking at building wood energy supply manufacturing facilities.
Foresta, an Australian company planning to build a $410 million wood pellet plant in Kawerau, told Local democracy reporting that it had already applied for funding under the new facility.
“If successful, this will support our plans to accelerate development of our site at Kawerau,” said Foresta business development manager Dean Ormond.
[image: Troy Baker)
[Foresta directors and senior management at Kawerau meeting with Mayor Faylete Tunui and Putauaki Trust members]