EIA Report on New Biofuel Plant Presented to Public

29 11 2011

On November 28 this year, particle board manufacturer UAB Swedspan Girių Bizonas, part of the IKEA group, presented the environmental impact assessment (EIA) report on the 82-MW plant installation to the public.

Vytautas Kanevičius, Mayor of Kazlų Rūda, municipal council member Karolis Raulinaitis, Juozas Vitukynas, ecologist of Kazlų Rūda, and Vilmantas Česnavičius came to the announced meeting in the municipality.

Though few public representatives were present, the meeting was very seminal. The presentation on the EIA Report was followed by the discussion on key aspects of the paper.

Vilmantas Česnavičius had put seventeen questions in writing to the rapporteurs, and several more questions were also raised during the EIA report hearing. The Town's Mayor paid much attention to the issues of the town bypass and encouraged the company to take advantage of the region's potential and use straw as biofuel. Municipal council member Karolis Raulinaitis wondered whether the company had any plans to bring more fuel by rail instead of tank trucks. Moreover, town's ecologist Vitukynas proposed to make use of the technical water potential.

Public representatives pointed out that an open policy of communication by UAB Swedspan GiriųBizonaswas imposing – the society was able to get to know the programme not only in statutory places since the document was also made available on the company's website.

The public presentation took nearly two hours.

In accordance with legislation on the planned economic activity, the organiser must carry out the environmental impact assessment programme as well as the environmental impact assessment report on the planned economic activity. The organiser must present the documents to the public for discussions and harmonise them with responsible authorities.