Countrystyle Group Limited and Tamar Energy Limited have this week signed a deal which sees Tamaracquiring ten sites from the Maidstone-based firm.
Under the terms of the sale, renewable energy firm Tamar has acquired future rights for anaerobic digestion (AD) sites plus existing composting faciliites and has established its own organics division.
The sale gives Tamar development rights to three of Countrystyles proposed AD sites with full planning permission in the south of England and the development rights for a fourth AD facility, which still requires planning permission.
Tamarwill also take over the management and operation of six of Countrystyles in-vessel and open windrow composting sites in the South East and East Anglia.
However, Countrystyle will not exit the organics recycling market entirely, as it will retain control of its 45,000 tonne-per-annum in-vessel composting facility at its site at Ridham, Kent, where the company also operates other recycling plants.
Transfer
Countrystyles organics management team will transfer to Tamar Organics as part of the deal.
Countrystyle Group will supply the fuel feedstock for the four AD plants and will market the PAS110 digestate and PAS100 soil improver end products to the agricultural sector via its associate company, FGS Agri Limited.
The value of the deal has not been revealed.
Trevor Heathcote, chairman of Countrystyle Group, said: We are delighted to be able to support Tamar Energy with its plan for a network of AD sites across the UK. Tamars acquisition of the strategically placed AD projects that Countrystyle has pulled together over the last three years, will now ensure that these projects have the funding and the best chance possible to be built out.
This deal combines the resources of a well-funded energy business in Tamar with the solution-driven delivery infrastructure and end-to-end contacts of Countrystyle and its sister company FGS Agri that provides outsourced agricultural services and recycling and spreading of utility sludges across the South of England.
Countrystyle
As well as composting, Countrystyle operates a network of waste transfer stations and materials recovery facilities across the south of England and recycles waste wood and plasterboard at its facility in Ridham, Kent which it will continue to operate.
The company was also responsible for recycling the compostable food packaging produced at the Olympic Games this summer (see letsrecycle.com story).
Alan Lovell, chairman and chief executive of Tamar Energy said: We are very excited to have added Countrystyles composting division to the Tamar family. We recognise the synergy between high quality composting and AD and believe that both businesses will benefit. We also gain access to four very good AD sites, which we will build out over the next four years. Countrystyles organic management team is excellent and will greatly enhance our operational capability.
Tamar Energy was formed in February 2012 and has received financial backing fromThe Duchy of Cornwall, The Rothschild family and Rothschild Investment Trust, Dubai-based investment company Fajr Capital and supermarket chain Sainsburys.
The companyplans to invest a total of 97 million to fund the development and construction of over 40 food and mixed waste anaerobic digestion plants.
Its first AD facility is currently under construction at Holbeach Hurn, Lincolnshire and will process around 36,000 tonnes of food waste once completed. The plant is due to be operational in August 2013.
Subscribe for free