Farming News - Key deal heralds the way forward for two major players in the organics and AD sector
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Key deal heralds the way forward for two major players in the organics and AD sector
Countrystyle Group Limited and Tamar Energy Limited have this week signed a deal transferring the management and development rights of four Anaerobic Digestion (AD) sites from Countrystyle Group to Tamar Energy.
The deal sees Tamar Energy acquiring the development rights to three of Countrystyle’s sites with full planning permission for AD facilities in the south of England and the development of a fourth AD facility subject to planning.
The newly formed Tamar Organics division will also take over the management and operation of six of Countrystyle’s in-vessel and open windrow composting sites in the South East and East Anglia. Countrystyle’s hugely experienced organics management team will transfer to Tamar Organics as part of the deal.
Commenting on the deal, Trevor Heathcote, Chairman of Countrystyle Group said: “We are delighted to be able to support Tamar Energy with its plan for a network of AD sites across the UK. Tamar’s acquisition of the strategically placed AD projects that Countrystyle has pulled together over the last three years, will now ensure that these projects have the funding and the best chance possible to be built out. This deal combines the resources of a well-funded energy business in Tamar with the solution-driven delivery infrastructure and end-to-end contacts of Countrystyle and its sister company FGS Agri that provides outsourced agricultural services and recycling and spreading of utility sludges across the South of England.”
Alan Lovell, Chairman and Chief Executive of Tamar Energy said “We are very excited to have added Countrystyle’s composting division to the Tamar family. We recognise the synergy between high quality composting and AD and believe that both businesses will benefit. We also gain access to four very good AD sites, which we will build out over the next four years. Countrystyle’s organic management team is excellent and will greatly enhance our operational capability.”
Countrystyle Group will be a supplier of the fuel feedstock initially for the four AD plants and Tamar’s new organics division. Countrystyle will also market the PAS110 digestate and PAS100 soil improver end products to the agricultural sector via its associate company, FGS Agri Limited.
Meanwhile, Countrystyle’s operation within Kent and the South East continues to go from strength to strength, with the operation of its specialist plasterboard and wood recycling service and in-vessel composting facility at Ridham near Sittingbourne, Kent. This is further supported by two waste recycling centres at Strood and Folkestone, operating its skip hire and waste collection service.
As such, Countrystyle Group remains the largest independent waste and resource management operator in Kent, having also expanded both its vehicle fleet and network of transfer stations through a recent acquisition.
In relation to the existing in-vessel and open windrow composting facilities, there will be no interruption in service with both customers and staff noticing very little change other than site re-branding.