Northern Ireland wood pellet giant shared tariff change details, news report suggests

Northern Ireland's biggest wood pellets manufacturer, Balcas, has confirmed it shared information about proposed tariff changes in the renewable heat incentive (RHI) scheme months before they were officially announced, according to a BBC report.

Balcas, based in Ballinamallard, County Fermanagh, said there was "nothing sinister" in the move.

It was not aware the information it had received was confidential, the company told the media channel.

The RHI scheme was intended to increase the creation of heat from renewable sources.

However, businesses were receiving more in subsidies than they were paying for renewable fuel and the scheme became majorly oversubscribed.

The fallout from the scandal surrounding the scheme, which is approximately £490 million (€568m) over budget, resulted in the collapse of Stormont's institutions and the calling of snap elections on 2 March, 2017.