Stafford Fuels, which is part of the larger Stafford Group, is set to spend €3 million on a new smokeless fuel plant in New Ross, Co Wexford.

The largest privately owned distributor of solid fuels in Ireland, that have been marketing-environmentally friendly domestic fuels since 1990, with the new facility, confirms their strategic view of a sustainable future for high quality solid fuels and their commitment to product innovation.

“With the growth in demand for smokeless products, this new investment will give Stafford a leadership role and align us with the significant changes facing the sector into the future,” said Andy Maher, Stafford Fuels managing director.

The company said planning permission for the plant was already in place. The new facility, which will be located within the firm’s existing campus at Raheen, will have a capacity to produce 50,000 tonnes of smokeless fuels.
Stafford Group’s energy division currently operates a coal import and wholesale facility on a 20-acre site in New Ross and the new operation is expected to begin within weeks.

As well as generating 10 jobs locally over the nine-month construction period, the new plant will create six additional permanent jobs over the next three years while the development overall is considered a major step in securing the future of 35 existing people directly employed at the company, and a further 20 supporting roles in transport and maintenance.