Bel Group has officially inaugurated a new biomass boiler at its Ulzama production site in Navarra, Spain. Alongside this, the company announced a €1.5 million investment to expand the facility with two new packaging lines, supporting future growth and sustainability goals.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by Mikel Irujo, Navarra’s Minister of Industry and Ecological and Digital Business Transition; Stéphane Dupays, Bel Group’s Chief Operations Officer; Iñigo Purroy, Plant Manager at Ulzama; and representatives from local authorities and industry. They celebrated the plant’s progress towards a greener, more sustainable future.
The new biomass boiler marks a significant milestone in Bel’s decarbonization strategy. Built by BKTECH and powered by locally supplied biomass pellets from Naparpellet, it replaces fossil fuels with renewable energy sources. The 700-kW system has over 90% efficiency and will meet all the plant’s steam needs. It is expected to reduce annual CO₂ emissions by 500 tons and operate fully on renewable energy, including green electricity and solar power.
This facility is now Bel’s second site internationally to adopt biomass technology, after Morocco’s Tangier plant. It also hosts the Group’s first pellet-based boiler, demonstrating Bel’s commitment to sustainable innovation and its climate targets aligned with the 1.5°C scenario. The project supports Bel’s goal of achieving carbon neutrality in its factories by 2025.
The €1.5 million expansion will add a 600 m² building with two packaging lines, increasing annual production of The Laughing Cow by 15%. Construction is underway, and the new lines are expected to be operational by mid-2026, supporting local employment and market needs.
Bel has operated in Spain for over 50 years, with the Ulzama site producing cheese for Spain and Portugal. The plant has grown 20% recently and employs around 140 people. These investments demonstrate Bel’s long-term commitment to sustainable growth and local community development in Navarra.
