TADHG OPENS NEW €3M STAFFORD PLANT
NEW STATE OF THE ART PLANT WHICH WILL PRODUCE 50,000 TONNES OF SMOKELESS HIGH HEAT FUEL WILL CREATE SIX NEW JOBS AND SECURE 35 EXISTING ONES
A €3 MILLION smokeless fuel manufacturing plant was opened in New Ross last Tuesday by rugby star Tadhg Furlong.
Stafford Fuels opened the new plant at Raheen, New Ross which will produce innovative low smoke, high heat solid fuels for domestic heating customers. The opening of the new plant has secured the existing 35 jobs in Stafford Fuels and also created six new positions.
Stafford Fuels is one of the leading suppliers of environmentally-friendly domestic fuels offering of high-quality solid fuels to Irish customers. The new €3 million facility will initially produce 50,000 tonnes of smokeless fuels each year and has the capacity to double this output to over 100,000 tonnes each year. Stafford Fuels is also developing a new fuel at the plant that combines biomass with traditional fuel which reduces greenhouse gas and air emissions.
The new facility, which began construction in early 2016, will create six new permanent jobs as well as securing the 35 existing jobs on site and supporting a further 20 support jobs in transport and maintenance. This high specification plant will produce smokeless ovoids, a high heat smokeless fuel, and will use new manufacturing technology to also develop environmentally friendly fuel containing biomass.
Speaking at the official opening, Andy Maher, Managing Director of Stafford Fuels said: ‘We are delighted to be opening our new state-of-the-art plant here in Raheen which will see us expand our range of products for customers across Ireland. This is a significant investment by Stafford Fuels and demonstrates our commitment to operating in the South East for the long-term. This new investment marks another important step towards a sustainable future for Stafford Fuels which has been operating in the South East for over 125 years.’
Stafford Fuels operates a coal importation and wholesale coal bagging and distribution facility on a 20-acre site in New Ross and the new operation is located within the existing campus at Raheen.
The company is the largest privately owned distributor of solid fuels in Ireland. All imports are received onto the company’s private jetty located at its state-of-the-art bagging plant at Raheen. From this location, Stafford Fuels distribute solid fuel throughout Ireland.
Stafford Fuels Ltd is part of the Stafford Group, a privately owned Irish Group of Companies which also comprises Lifestyle Sports and Campus Oil and has a total employment of around 850 people.
The Stafford Group originated from the business of JJ Stafford, a native of Wexford, who operated shipping and fuels businesses in the South East in the late 19th century. Having operating in the region for over 125 years, the company has strong local connections from generations of business operations and providing employment in counties including Wexford, Kilkenny and Waterford.
The new plant was officially opened by Ireland and Leinster rugby star Tadhg Furlong.