Bord na Móna Briquette Factory To Cease Operations

Yet another significant employer vanishes from the North Tipperary landscape.

The Bord na Móna (BNM) Briquette Factory, at Littleton, Thurles, Co. Tipperary, is to close by April of 2018. This afternoon Management met with staff at the Littleton, Tipperary and Derrinlough, Offaly plants to make the expected announcement.

The Littleton, Co. Tipperary factory was first commissioned 36 years ago, in 1981.

The semi-state company, a significant employer in a region of high unemployment, announced that the Tipperary facility will close down in April next year, with the loss of at least 69 jobs.

There is also expected to be some bearing on 56 other employees, all who work as part of the peat harvesting operation in the Tipperary area. The company will begin consultation shortly with both unions and employees, to further discuss these job losses.

The Derrinlough plant, which currently employs 61 people, will now be the sole location for the production of peat briquettes, and into the future, the production of a new biomass briquette, for which the company have confirmed, it is to seek planning permission to begin production.

BNM defend their decision to close Littleton, claiming sales had come under pressure due to increased competition, consumer trends, low oil prices, carbon tax and other unnamed factors.

Meanwhile, the Bord na Móna group of unions have stated that they do not accept the decision to close the factory, and they will oppose today’s decision, using all legitimate means.