– Every single day there are people who call and ask for firewood, says Jøran Oseland. He is technically responsible at the Arboretum in Sandnes. There they have produced 100 pallets of wood. But by April, that promise was gone. – I think I could almost sell a thousand pallets, says the firewood producer. Wood bookings for winter 2023-24 have also ticked in. Record high electricity prices and predictions of a further doubling by winter are the backdrop. – Many who did not get firewood this winter asked if they could be on the list for next year. Now about 50 people have said they want it and we have to wait and see what we can produce. Firewood producer Ole Aanestad has experienced that firewood is stolen from the tractor trailer. Photo: Kaj Hjertenes / news Vedsekkar stolne Wood producer Ole Aanestad (21) in Sandnes is also experiencing an influx of orders. He was sold for firewood in February. Next year, he aims to double production. – These are very good times, preferably too much of the good. The 21-year-old has even experienced sacks of firewood being stolen from the tractor trailer. – This has meant that I have to have people with me who can look after the wood while I’m awake. One person who was out early enough to get the winter’s firewood in the house is Per Ellingsæter from Sandnes. – The prices for electricity will be completely wrong, but we can fire with wood. – How much wood will it cost? – One and a half fathoms, I reckon (three pallets, journal note.) Per Ellingsæter from Sandnes has secured firewood for the winter. Not everyone is as lucky as him. Photo: Arild Eskeland / news Varehus increased its wood sale tenfold In line with demand, the price of firewood rises. Many have to pay twice as much as they did last year. Coop sells millions of sacks of firewood and has increased the price by over 100 per cent. Nevertheless, the customers keep coming. Note Bygg in Sandnes has alone sold 5,000 sacks of firewood in August, long before the people of Rogaland have really started to light the fire in the fireplace. This is a tenfold increase compared to August last year. – It is completely extreme. I have never experienced that the firewood season has started so early before. Our department stores had a bonanza selling everything at the beginning of August, says regional director of Coop Norway, Dag Ove Aksland. Firewood goes like hot cakes in Rogaland. It is the regional director of Coop Norway, Dag Ove Aksland. Photo: Arild Eskeland / news – Don’t panic He says that there is a lot of competition for the wood, but still asks people not to panic. – We place our orders early in the year and have planned to have a good supply of firewood throughout the winter season this year. The regional director cannot, however, rule out smaller periods where they are without wood. Nor is it the case that the department store is rubbing its hands, despite high wood prices in the shops. – Wood has never been a good store for us, and it isn’t now either, says Aksland matter-of-factly.
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He could sell ten times as much wood – news Rogaland – Local news, TV and radio
