Flying Forest to establish bio-kerosene facility in Iisalmi, Finland

British company Flying Forest plans to establish a bio-kerosene production and research facility in Iisalmi, Finland. The company has secured a plot in the Soinlahti industrial area and is currently seeking funding for the project. If everything proceeds as intended, the production facility would create at least 100 jobs in Iisalmi.

Iisalmi was chosen for its advantageous location, which facilitates easy access to raw materials and logistics, particularly due to the nearby railway. Bio-kerosene is a sustainable aviation fuel made from renewable resources. The planned raw materials for the facility include forest biomass such as logging residues and wood chips.

Paul Groves, CEO of Flying Forest, stated that the project would be implemented in phases. The initial phase is expected to involve an investment of between €200 million and €400 million, with the second phase potentially requiring double or even triple that amount. The factory’s initial annual production capacity is estimated at 25,000 to 50,000 tons of fuel, with Groves noting that this could be increased to 200,000 tons per year.

Flying Forest’s land reservation is valid until June 2027, contingent upon the company paying the agreed reservation fee. The company’s intention is to eventually purchase the plot from the city of Iisalmi, provided the factory project proceeds as planned. The Soinlahti industrial area, which was completed a decade ago, has been specifically designed to attract companies from the bio-industrial sector.

Previously, Green Fuel Nordic had proposed a bio-refinery at Soinlahti, but that plan ended in bankruptcy earlier this year.