Tornado storm damages Enviva’s Amory pellet plant in Mississippi

U.S. pellet producer Enviva said the storm that led to a strong tornado touching down in Amory, Miss., has damaged their wood pellet production facility.

Enviva said in a news release yesterday all staff are safe and accounted for following the storm on March 24, but the Amory plant – a 115,000 metric ton per year facility – has suspended operations pending a full review of the damage.

“Amory was our very first plant in the Southeast U.S. and this community holds a special place in our hearts. We are heartbroken by the devastating damage the tornado has had on our colleagues, friends, and families, and in the broader Amory community, which we’ve been proud to call home for more than 17 years,” Thomas Meth, Enviva’s president and CEO, said in a news release. “Our sympathies go out to everyone affected. We are already hard at work making sure our employees have what they need and helping the wonderful people of Amory rebuild amid this terrible tragedy.”

The company said its ports and larger plants in the region were not impacted by the storm, and that facility insurance will cover the property damage and business interruption.