A decision is urgently needed on the REFIT (Renewal Energy Feed In Tariff) price the government will pay peat power stations for burning biomass such as miscanthus

The ongoing delay by Communications Minister Eamon Ryan in making an announcement on this issue has serious implications for the sector as the harvesting season has now arrived.

It is vital the REFIT price is clarified so as to allow a margin at each stage of the supply chain which will in turn secure the survival of the domestic Biomass and miscanthus industries in the long term.

The Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources told growers that a decision would be issued in January but it is now mid April and no information is forthcoming.

I am told that the REFIT price is the single biggest issue affecting the industry. Without the power station taking on miscanthus at a viable price this industry will collapse and the government will have no chance of meeting the 2015 target with indigenous biomass.

I am therefore calling on the Minister to make an announcement without further delay as growers who have built up a secure supply of miscanthus can do absolutely nothing with it until they have this information.