Sweden-based World Bioenergy Association (WBA), a global organisation dedicated to supporting and representing the wide range of actors in the bioenergy sector has announced that it has set up the first ever branch office for the organisation – in Changchun, Jilin Province, China. Furthermore, that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the China New Energy Chamber of Commerce (CNECC) and with the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology department of Jilin Province.
According to a statement, the establishment of its first ever branch office in Changchun – in the presence of the Deputy Governor of Jilin Province Sun Dawei – is a “milestone in the expansion” of the World Bioenergy Association (WBA) as a “truly global” organization. Moreover, it provides the perfect opportunity for local companies and associations in the complete bioenergy supply chain to gather together and to promote the development of bioenergy.
We as the World Bioenergy Association believe that the transition to 100 percent renewable energy is the permanent solution for mitigation of climate change with bioenergy playing a leading role. Bioenergy converts biomass and waste to energy and contributes to environmental protection. Biomass is a natural storage option for renewable energy, commented Dr Tanay Sidki Uyar, Vice President, WBA.
The opening of the branch office was held September 2 in conjunction with a “highly informative” forum on ‘International Cooperation Forum for Biomass Resources – Comprehensive Utilization of the Whole Industry Chain Development’, organized as part of the 11th North East China Expo in Changchun. WBA along with Great Resources exhibited at the expo where the Vice Premier of China Wang Yang visited the venue.
The forum, which included presentations from technology companies from Finland, Sweden, Lithuania and Denmark that presented the latest technological advancement in the bioenergy sector in Europe, was “highly successful.”
Representatives from China talked about the development of the local forestry and agricultural industry and the need for technical expertise for increasing development of bioenergy. The forum also included a study visit to two biomass installations along with a biomass testing facility in Changchun, China.
WBA signs MoU with CNECC and Jilin Provincial Government
At the same forum, WBA signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the China New Energy Chamber of Commerce (CNECC).
The MoU establishes the relationship between CNECC and WBA in promoting the development and deployment of bioenergy in China including facilitating linkages between companies, researchers and bioenergy organizations from different parts of the world; encouraging cultural and academic exchange between China and other countries; and strengthening the communications between technical experts leading to increasing impact of bioenergy.
The latter part of the forum was a high-level interaction between WBA represented by Dr Tanay Sidki Uyar, Vice President and Bharadwaj Kummamuru, Executive Director, and Jilin Provincial Government. The event was hosted by Zhu Tianshu, Director of Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.
The aim was to promote industrial development in Jilin Province, establish advanced biomass manufacturing industry and a cooperation platform in biomass energy between enterprises in Jilin Province and foreign advanced manufacturing enterprises. The discussion concluded with the signing of a MoU between WBA and Industry and Information Technology department of Jilin Province.
The discussions built on an earlier meeting between the WBA delegation and the Vice Governor of Jilin Province Jin Yuhui on strengthening collaboration between WBA and the local government. Hosted by the Vice Governor it was attended by WBA delegates representing companies in Europe and local provincial ministers of Jilin.
Opening the WBA branch office in China and signing MoU between WBA and Ministry of Industry and Information Technology department of Jilin Province, we have provided the platform for interaction of the WBA members and potential bioenergy projects in China which will in turn be a win-win solution for all countries in the world, ended Dr Uyar.
