Government invests in biomass boiler plant for cattle producers

Quebec and Eastern Canadian cattle producers to benefit from the creation of new biomass boiler plant

By Amanda Brodhagen, Farms.com

The Government of Canada announced the opening of a biomass boiler plant in Lévis, Quebec. The Sanimax plant was created with the help of the federal government – a repayable investment of $7.6 million, which was announced in Feb. 2011. The plant will handle carcass disposal and related by-products and will benefit cattle producers in Quebec and Eastern Canada, abattoirs and meat processors. 

The biomass boiler plant has the capacity to utalize animal waste and turn it into energy. Sanimax President Martin Courture says that the plant will reduce C02 emissions by 22,000 metric tones per year. MP Jacques Gourde (Lotbinière-Chutes-de-la-Chaudière calls this investment a cost effective opportunity for the cattle industry and provides a safe disposal of animal by-products.

The project was funded part of the 2011 Economic Action under the Slaughter Waste Innovation Program.