The fire prevention work carried out by Veolia generates 5,000 tons of biomass

Veolia is collaborating with the Public Environmental Management Company (GEACAM) on forest fire prevention through its biomass company, Enerbosque. The company is currently working in the province of Cuenca, creating firebreaks and fire-fighting areas through targeted and controlled felling of forest vegetation. This will facilitate fire protection and suppression efforts in the event of a fire.

These works, planned by the Department of Agriculture of Castilla-La Mancha, are part of the 2018 annual plans for the utilization of generated biomass. The work consists of thinning the tree cover to very low densities and clearing the existing scrubland in a strip approximately 100 meters wide. This creates areas with a low fuel load where, in the event of a fire, its spread can be slowed and extinguished more easily.

Enerbosque's work in this first phase has generated approximately 5,000 tons of biomass, which, once processed, will be used to produce thermal energy at Veolia's facilities serving homes and industries. Biomass is an economical and environmentally friendly renewable energy source, as it reduces CO2 emissions. One of Veolia's main biomass heating networks is Móstoles Ecoenergía, a plant that supplies heating and hot water to 2,500 homes in Móstoles. This network reduces energy costs by 15% for the residents it serves and prevents the emission of 9,000 tons of CO2. 

In addition to collaborating on prevention efforts, Enerbosque participates in the restoration and recovery of areas affected by forest fires in previous years. Specifically, the company was awarded a contract through a public tender from the Regional Ministry of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Development of Castilla-La Mancha for a sensitive area in the municipality of Yeste, in Albacete. This area, located within the Calares del Río Mundo Natural Park and the Sierra de Segura mountain range, was burned last summer, consuming more than 3,000 hectares. The clearing and removal of the burned forest is essential to facilitate the regeneration and recovery of the environment.

Enerbosque therefore carries out the felling, preparation, extraction, and chipping of the wood obtained from these treatments for subsequent handling and transport to the company's thermal power plants. It is also planned to use a portion of the timber obtained in rounds to supply the panel industry and sawmills.