Swan River, Manitoba
The Swan River, Manitoba BDO Zone for Woody Biomass is rated ‘BBB’.
Rating Issue Date: April 29, 2024.
'BBB' ratings indicate good prospective viability of Feedstock Supply and Infrastructure (FS&I), and expectations of FS&I risk are currently low in the Zone. Capacity to support new biobased plant operations is considered adequate.
Swan River, MB holds an investment-grade BDO Zone ‘BBB’ Rating for Forest residuals, Sawmill residuals, Pulpwood. Issued in Apr 2024, the rating certifies approximately 100,000 gt/yr of reliable, low-risk biomass feedstock available within a 120-km driving distance from the center point (Swan River, MB).
A ‘BBB’ rating is an investment grade rating, signalling a good, moderate-risk feedstock supply. It signals to developers, lenders, and investors that Swan River, MB’s feedstock supply has undergone rigorous, standardized due diligence across 100+ risk indicators, the same framework applied to every BDO Zone across North America.
Every BDO Zone Rating assesses a region across three dimensions, mapped as expanding radii around a candidate site.
- Feedstock surplus: Data indicating at least 50,000 tonnes per year of excess feedstock available to support typical intake of new biofuels manufacturing plants.
- Supply chain strength: Evidence supporting long-term commitment to supply both quantity and quality by local farmers, forestry companies, food waste generators, haulers and municipalities.
- Sound infrastructure: Suitable transportation, logistic, operating and supporting infrastructure to meet the requirements for new facility operations.
Assets & liabilities
- Access to 50,000 odt/yr of wood fibre
- Over a decade of forest residue supply chain experience
- Supply assurances under long-term offtake agreement
- New bio-projects located in the vicinity of the Town of Swan River would have major locational advantages relative to existing competitors
- No additional investments required in feedstock logistics, infrastructure, or workforce
- Only one potential supplier of sawmill residues located in the vicinity of Swan River
- Long-term timber supply uncertainty stemming from licensing issues
- Active public opposition to forest industry in the form of legal disputes and environmental NGO initiatives
Infrastructure & sites
- Located 4.5 km from SPL in Swan River's industrial park, zoned for heavy industrial development
- Excellent access to primary roadways and railways
- Direct access to natural gas, high-speed internet, electricity, and water supply
- Well-developed regional social infrastructure with a 20-year-old regional health facility and high school and college-level technical programs
- High regional workforce availability and comparatively low labour costs
- Ideal location for developers utilizing sawmill residue supplies from SPL
- Refer to MAP C-4 for potential project site in the Industrial Park
Local grants & incentives
- The Town of Swan River encourages and supports construction of new residential and commercial structures and expansions of existing commercial properties. The incentive is based on the assessed value of the construction as determined by the Manitoba Assessment Branch.
Contacts
