O'Keeffe Sawmills Expands as Ireland's Largest Firewood Supplier with €2M Investment
O'Keeffe Sawmills in west Waterford has expanded to become Ireland's largest firewood supplier following a €2 million investment from the Waterford Local Community Development Committee. The investment facilitated the construction of new storage facilities and the installation of industrial kilns to meet moisture content standards, supporting a peak workforce of 34. The company aims for full energy self-sufficiency through solar power, aligning with Ireland's renewable energy goals.
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O'Keeffe Sawmills, located in west Waterford, has expanded its operations significantly to become Ireland's largest firewood supplier. Established in 1974, the sawmill transitioned to a firewood business under Bernard O'Keeffe, utilizing offcuts from a pallet operation.
To scale operations, a €2 million investment was secured from Waterford Local Community Development Committee, which included purchasing land, constructing 4,500m2 storage sheds, and installing eight industrial kilns to ensure firewood moisture content meets the 20% requirement set by the Wood Fuel Quality Assurance scheme. The facility now supports a workforce of up to 34 during peak periods and supplies both large-scale customers and domestic users. O'Keeffe plans to achieve full energy self-sufficiency through solar energy, contributing to Ireland's renewable energy goals by potentially selling excess energy back to the grid.
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