World Bioenergy Association elects Remigijus Lapinskas as president

The World Bioenergy Association (WBA) has announced that Lithuanian Remigijus Lapinskas has been elected its new president.

He was elected during the annual meetings in Istanbul in Turkey on 28 May and has taken over from his predecessor Heinz Kopetz. Kopetz will continue assisting WBA in a new role as senior consultant. 

“It’s an honour to be elected as the president of World Bioenergy Association,” said Remigijus Lapinskas.

He added: “It is a great responsibility and I would like to thank the WBA members for such a privilege. I would like to specially thank Heinz Kopetz for having led successfully the organisation in the past four years.”

Kopetz said: “I would like to thank all the members, staff, supporters and partners who have supported WBA with good cooperation in the past four years. I wish the new President and the Board a successful future.”

In a statement, WBA said it would like to “thank Heinz Kopetz for an excellent work he has done with the development of the organization. Taking over four years ago, Heinz Kopetz has led the organization excellently with his insights into bioenergy and renewables policy, financing and technological solutions”.

The new president has fresh ideas for further development of the organisation, WBA said.

Lapinskas said: “My focus for development of WBA will be on three main things: First, WBA will continue to remain and develop as a leading global biomass energy organization, second, WBA will influence market expansion and business services in promising markets, for e.g. China, Central and Eastern Region of Europe, African countries, and Latin America etc. and third, WBA will work on establishing regional branches of WBA worldwide in order to have better contact and dialogue with members, business community and decision makers.”

He added that fossil fuel exit strategy and a global carbon tax should be the main drivers for the development of the future energy society. 

“WBA is looking forward to having Remigijus Lapinskas lead the organisation,” WBA executive director, Karin Haara, said.