News

01-Jul-2010

New Zealand Prime Minister visits Greenlane Biogas plant in Japan

New Zealand Prime Minister John Key recently travelled to Japan and met with Greenlane Biogas Sales Director Steve Rowntree for a guided tour of the Greenlane biogas plant installed at the Higashinada Sewage Treatment Plant in Kobe City.

The visit was scheduled as part of Key’s trip to Japan to meet with the Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama for trade talks. These were aimed at breaking down trade barriers and encouraging closer working relationships between New Zealand and Japanese businesses. Both the Vice Mayor of Kobe City and Prime Minister Key spoke at the Kobe plant in front of a large business and press delegation, presenting the Greenlane plant and using it as a showcase example of a successful venture between Japanese and New Zealand companies.

The Greenlane biogas upgrading plant provides clean burning renewable vehicle fuel for the city’s bus fleet and rubbish trucks, coupled with a public refuelling facility. Following the formal welcoming ceremony and plant tour, Prime Minister Key & Rowntree enjoyed a ride around the neighbouring suburbs in one of the biogas buses, fuelled at the plant.

The plant was commissioned in 2006 by Flotech/Greenlane Biogas for Kobelco Eco-Solutions. This positive working relationship between the two companies has continued with Kobelco Eco-Solutions, who were the first licensee of Greenlane Biogas, recently renewing their licence for an additional five year term in late 2009.