Kemi
The most environmentally efficient bioproduct mill
When completed, the bioproduct mill in Kemi will be the most efficient wood-processing plant in the northern hemisphere. It will produce 1.5 million tonnes of softwood and hardwood pulp annually, used to make paperboard, tissue and printing papers, and speciality products. The new mill will boost Kemi’s output of softwood pulp to an entirely new level, while also improving the industrial efficiency of customers.
“Being a frontrunner requires investment,” says Ismo Nousiainen , CEO of Metsä Fibre. He points out that sustainability, climate change and in- creasing environmental awareness place new demands on pulp producers. “At Metsä Group, responsibility and sustainability have long been our guiding principles, and their significance will only increase in the future. Kemi bioproduct mill will help us meet these requirements and comply with our ambitious sustainability targets. We aim to be the world’s most sustainable pulp producer.” “Sustainability, competitive production, and top expertise lie at the core of our operations. We are building a mill with superior energy, material and environmental efficiency that will be a global fortrunner in these areas.” The fully fossil-free mill will meet the most stringent environmental norms and technical requirements far into the future. Uses have been identified for nearly all production side streams, and active research is underway to find ways to utilise the remaining fractions. “Our increasing environmentally efficient production makes us an even stronger partner for customers seeking sustainable growth,” says Har- maala. He adds that the new mill will improve the industrial efficiency and com- petitiveness of its customers, as well as Metsä Fibre’s. “The data collected in the Kemi production and delivery process will provide customers with pulp of increasingly high quality, as well as new tools for developing their operations and products.” •
The new Kemi bioproduct mill will come online in the third quarter of 2023. Although the actual start is some time away, Metsä Fibre has long been working to ensure that the transition from the old mill, located on the same site, is as smooth as possible. “Metsä Fibre’s solid project skills, experienced personnel and exten- sive training will ensure a smooth transition with no need for any down- time,” says Ari Harmaala, SVP, Sales and Marketing. “The transition will be carried out in a week or so, without supply dis- ruptions. The old mill will run until the new one is fully ready for produc- tion. Our customers will not even notice the changeover.” After start-up, Kemi bioproduct mill will provide Metsä Fibre’s custom- ers with many advantages that also improve their competitiveness. One is its higher production capacity, an increase in the output of premium pulp by around 900,000 tonnes. “Our market pulp capacity will significantly increase thanks to the new mill. As in all our products, quality will be guaranteed by slow-growing Nordic wood, with fibres suitable for many different purposes.” Huge investment in sustainability With a value of EUR 1.85 billion, Kemi bioproduct mill is the largest in- vestment in the history of Finland’s forest industry. The mill will gener- ate wellbeing across vast swathes of Finland and increase export income significantly.
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