With the price of energy in Belgium rising, almost all fuel types have become more expensive in recent months. Gas, electricity, coal, heating oil, and importantly wood have all seen significant price increases. While this has increased the energy burden on consumers, it offers a novel way for local municipalities to offset increased fuel budgets.
Due to the high price of wood, Belgian municipalities have begun to rely on selling wood to replenish their budgets, according to RTL Info. For many local municipalities, timber sales are becoming an important part of the budget.
Timber sales are typically done by auction, as per the rules of public procurement. Wood is sold to the highest bidder and prices vary depending on the quality of the wood, as well as the accessibility of the logging area.
Christiane Orban, Councillor for Forests in Theux, is pleased with the results of almost four hours of bidding on timber felled by her municipality. With the price of wood reaching record prices, almost double the usual level, these sales offer a quick way to replenish coffers depleted by energy costs.
Without this extra income, Orban predicts that the budgets would be “very difficult to close.” The councillor said that the sale of wood now represents 5% of the total budget. In the municipality of Lierneux, this figure is 10%.
“The more revenue we have from wood sales, the more we will be able to relieve our budget and finance over civic projects,” said mayor André Samray. “A few years ago, the price of wood fell, but now, we hope to be able to carry out a good operation, from a budgetary point of view.”
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Timber has increased in popularity due to its potential as an alternative fuel source for heating homes. Some buildings plan to use firewood for heating during the winter period.
As the demand for firewood rises, and the supply of timber in Belgium becomes strained, so too has there been an increase in scams. Some people have resorted to creating fake firewood adverts online, promising cut rate firewood, only to run away with customers’ money.
Belgium FPS Economy advises Belgians to be careful when buying firewood online and to carefully check if the deal is "too good to be true."
