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Tolko Industries receives Energy Conservation Award

VANCOUVER, BC — Tolko Industries has been awarded a Canadian Industry Program for Energy Conservation (CIPEC) Leadership Award for switching from natural gas to clean burning synthesis gas produced by Nexterras biomass gasification system at Tolkos Heffley Creek plywood mill in Kamloops, BC.Tolko has demonstrated the kind of commitment to energy efficiency that is truly a model for Canadas industrial sector, said David Anderson, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Natural Resources, Gary Lunn. I thank you for your role in helping Canadians use less and live better.In 2005, Tolko partnered with Nexterra Energy to design and build a gasification system that converts low value wood waste into syngas which is used as a fuel to replace natural gas at the Heffley Creek mill. The new system, which has logged over 10,000 hours of operation since it opened in 2006, reduces greenhouse gas emissions at the plant by 12,000 tonnes annually and displaced $1.5 million in natural gas this year.Increasing our competitive advantage by reducing our operating costs was a primary goal for Tolko, said Michael Towers, Manager, Tolko Energy Supply and Systems. To do it in a way that also dramatically reduced our emissions really made it a win-win solution for us. Having our efforts recognized with such a prestigious award is a source of pride for everyone at Tolko.We congratulate Tolko for their commitment to becoming energy self-sufficient, said Jonathan Rhone, President and CEO of Nexterra Energy Corp. Tolko has been a great partner on this project. The plant at Heffley Creek has demonstrated that our gasification technology enables customers to both improve their bottom line and also reduce their impact on the environment.About Canadian Industry Program for Energy Conservation Program Administered through Natural Resources Canada, CIPEC is a partnership between industry and the federal government to promote the efficient use of energy. The CIPEC Awards recognize Canadian organizations for their significant and innovative contributions to energy efficiency.