Bord Na Móna rations peat as demand soars

BORD Na Móna is limiting supplies of peat briquettes to wholesalers after this month’s wintry weather caused demand to soar by two-thirds compared to last year.

The peat company is supplying wholesale customers on a daily or weekly basis to help manage supplies and to stop the buyers stock-piling briquettes.

Supplies of the fuel have been affected by last year’s wash-out summer and a fire at the firm’s Littleton factory in Co. Tipperary.

But the company has insisted it is confident it can continue to manage its stocks of briquettes to meet the requirement of its customers.

Bord Na Móna would normally have up to 50,000 tonnes of briquettes in stock at its factories in Derrinlough, Co. Offaly, and Littleton.

However, reserves have fallen significantly due to bad weather last year, which reduced the peat harvest to just 37 per cent – the worst in the history of the company.

Higher-than-normal moisture levels in the peat used in briquette production also reduced output at factories. Now Bord Na Móna has introduced a contingency plan to manage current stocks and meet demand for briquettes.

A spokesman said the firm will not be in a position to let wholesalers build up large stocks but it will be able to meet demand on a daily or weekly basis.

Wholesalers in the midlands confirmed they have been unable to get large stock supplies of briquettes in advance and had to contact Bord Na Móna daily with requests.