Since 1998, UNECE has been directing a major cross-sectoral umbrella project for enterprises in the biomass sector in the region. One of the central tasks of climate change mitigation is to replace fossil fuels with alternative energy. The project aims to strengthen sustainable biomass supply from selected countries in the UNECE region to energy producers in the EU, with a focus on agro- and wood residues, whose use is an important alternative to the use of (food) crops for fuel.

The project also seeks to improve the logistics chain of biomass trade from producer to the end-user through improved inland transportation, port and trade logistics, and customs cooperation with respect to imports and exports of biomass. Two further aims of the project are facilitating the exchange of good practice with the private sector and exploring cross-sectoral approaches that take into account environment, energy, trade and transport issues.

Based on the excellent results of this project in Northwest Russia, the Federal Government of the Russian Federation supports since 2008 a new project activity “Development of sustainable biomass trade and export opportunities for selected regions of the Russian Federation” Since the start in September 2008 many regions, including Krasnodar, Tatarstan, and Leningrad oblast, have asked for support from the project in developing their biomass sector.

More information and also here.