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(Alliance News) - Active Energy Group PLC said Wednesday the North Carolina Department of Environment & Natural Resources is continuing to review its application to begin commercial production at its coalswitch plant in Lumberton, US.
Active has filed the relevant air and environmental permits to the state regulator, which has confirmed to the company it is continuing to review the application.
"Once the permits have been awarded, the company will commence construction of the reference plant to produce up to 5 tonnes per hour CoalSwitch," Active said.
While the company awaits approval, Active said it is continuing to work on plans to construct and produce facilities for larger production at the Lumberton plant following its licence agreement with Canadian forestry firm RMD Environmentals Inc.
Under the deal, agreed in late November, RMD will "develop and manage" projects using its wood fibre fuel product CoalSwitch in the Canadian states of British Columbia and Alberta. It is expected the first plant will be commissioned by RMB within the next 18 months.
Active Chief Executive Michael Rowan said: "Having submitted all the relevant documentation, we are positioned to commence construction of the initial 5 tonnes per hour CoalSwitch reference plant at Lumberton once we receive the final permits. In the meantime, we're making good progress across the business, looking to utilise the Lumberton site for complementary lumber activities and planning for the scale up to the 50 tonnes per hour CoalSwitch facility."
Shares in Active Energy were up 8.8% in London on Wednesday at 0.48 pence each.
By Paul McGowan; paulmcgowan@alliancenews.com
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