Bord na Móna today (January 15) announced the end of all peat harvesting operations to focus on renewable energy.
The company suspended peat harvesting on its lands last year following a 2019 High Court decision that ruled all peat harvesting on bogs over 30 hectares required planning permission.
Bord na Móna said harvesting employees have already been transferred to peatland rehabilitation projects ahead of the decision and it would not affect the number of staff employed.
The company’s last full peat harvest took place in 2018, followed by a partial harvest in 2019 and a full suspension of harvesting operations last year.
Chief executive Tom Donnellan said: “The brown to green strategy has involved the transformation of Bord na Móna from a traditional peat business into a climate solutions company.”
Mr Donnellan said the changes are needed for Ireland to meet its 2050 target for carbon neutrality.
“Today marks the formal end to the company’s association with peat harvesting, as we move on to tackle the critical challenges concerning climate change, energy supply biodiversity and the circular economy,” he said.