Stafford Fuels is to build a new €3 million smokeless fuel manufacturing facility in New Ross, Co Wexford, the group announced on Monday.

The company said planning permission for the plant was already in place. The new facility, which will be located within the firm’s existing campus at Raheen, will have a capacity to produce 50,000 tonnes of smokeless fuels.

Stafford, which currently operates a coal importation and wholesale facility on a 20-acre site, said construction of the new operation is expected to get underway within the next few weeks.

As well as generating 10 jobs locally over the nine-month construction period, the new plant will create six additional permanent jobs over the next three years while the development overall is considered a major step in securing the future of 35 existing people directly employed at the company, and a further 20 supporting roles in transport and maintenance.

Stafford Fuels, which is part of the larger fStafford Group, that also comprises Lifestyle Sports and Campus Oil, is the largest privately owned distributor of solid fuels in Ireland and have been marketing-environmentally friendly domestic fuels since 1990.

"This investment confirms our strategic view of a sustainable future for high quality solid fuels and our commitment to product innovation which can offer customers even more choice. With the growth in demand for smokeless products, this new investment will give Stafford a leadership role and align us with the significant changes facing the sector into the future," said Andy Maher, Stafford Fuels managing director.

“With the onset of greener fuels like biomass ovoids and ever more energy-efficient appliances, our solid fuel range will continue to play an important part in providing affordable and sustainable heating products for the people of Ireland,” he added.