Tolko Industries Ltd. has been awarded a Canadian Industry Program for Energy Conservation (CIPEC) Leadership Award for switching from natural gas to clean burning synthesis gas produced by Nexterra's biomass gasification system at Tolko's Heffley Creek plywood mill in Kamloops.

"Tolko has demonstrated the kind of commitment to energy efficiency that is truly a model for Canada's industrial sector," said David Anderson, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Natural Resources, Gary Lunn. "I thank you for your role in helping Canadians use less and live better."

In 2005, Tolko partnered with Nexterra Energy to design and build a gasification system that converts low value wood waste into "syngas" which is used as a fuel to replace natural gas at the Heffley Creek mill. The new system, which has logged over 10,000 hours of operation since it opened in 2006, reduces greenhouse gas emissions at the plant by 12,000 tonnes annually and displaced $1.5 million in natural gas this year.

"Increasing our competitive advantage by reducing our operating costs was a primary goal for Tolko," said Michael Towers, Manager, Tolko Energy Supply and Systems. "To do it in a way that also dramatically reduced our greenhouse gas emissions really made it a win-win solution for us. Having our efforts recognized with such a prestigious award is a source of pride for everyone at Tolko."