2020
CONSTRUCTION
8/2020
BIOPRODUCT MILL PROJECT ENGINEERING BEGINS
12/2020
ENVIRONMENTAL PERMIT
Production will continue seamlessly at Kemi mill
AN ECOSYSTEM FOSTERS NEW PRODUCTS AND PROCESSES In the bioproduct mill concept, partner companies located nearby, as well as the ecosystem formed by the mill and its partners, enable side streams to be utilised and processed on-site. The business ecosystem develops gradually and may continue to expand long into the future. At Kemi, just as at Äänekoski, the bioproduct mill forms an ecosystem core that is expected to attract more bioproduct-related pilot projects and new players in and around the mill. Metsä Board already has a paperboard mill operating in the same integrated unit as the new Kemi bioproduct mill. The Äänekoski bioproduct mill also has a Metsä Board paperboard mill next door. At Äänekoski, the mill area is home to a textile fibre demo plant and a demo plant for 3D fibre products. There are plans to set up a methanol purification facility in the area. “In the future, the ecosystem may be joined by entirely new operators that convert pulp or side streams on-site. Kemi is just getting started, but operations there can be nefit from experience gained at Äänekoski.” Of the possible new concepts emerging at Kemi, Pe- hu-Lehtonen sees interesting opportunities related to carbon dioxide. “Carbon dioxide can be used as a feedstock for chemicals or as an energy store. Since it originates from a renewable resource, it might be a good source of raw materials for future energy production.” In the future, bark will also be refined into products instead of using it as an energy source in place of fossil fuels. Metsä Fibre is exploring this topic in collaboration with universities and research institutes. “Bark can be used for various energy products. We have also studied the separation of tannins and, in collaboration with steel companies, looked at whether bark could be used as a raw material for coke. It ultimately depends on the interests of the upgrading chain.”
2021
11.2.2021
INVESTMENT DECISION, CONSTRUCTION WORK BEGINS IN KEMI
Q3/2021
MAIN EQUIPMENT INSTALLATIONS BEGIN
INSTALLATION
When the new Kemi bioproduct mill comes online in the second half of 2023, the old mill will be wound down. The switchover will not affect deliveries. The additional capacity is now available for booking.
2022
Q3/2022
NEW 110 KV POWERLINE TO NATIONAL GRID COMPLETE
Q4/2022
CONSTRUCTION OF PORT WAREHOUSE COMPLETED
Construction is proceeding purposefully towards the start-up of the new mill in the third quarter of 2023.
The new bioproduct mill in Kemi will be started up by the same employees who shut down operations at the old mill. The switchover is expected to cause only a short pro- duction break of a week or so. It will not affect delivery reliability, says Ari Harmaala , Senior Vice President, Sales and Customership at Metsä Fibre. “Production will transition seamlessly to the new bio- product mill in the third quarter of 2023 without inter- rupting customer deliveries. We will reach full production capacity within a year of the mill start-up,” says Harmaala. The biggest change for Metsä Fibre’s customers will come from the increase in capacity. With an annual pulp pro- duction volume of 1.5 million tonnes, the new bioproduct mill will be the most efficient wood-processing plant in the northern hemisphere. Softwood pulp will account for approximately 1,200,000 tonnes, and birch pulp for some 300,000 tonnes, of the overall production. “The larger production capacity in Kemi means that our market pulp capacity will increase by 800,000 tonnes in softwood pulp and by 100,000 tonnes in hardwood pulp.” Despite the higher production volumes, the world’s most environmentally efficient bioproduct mill will produce premium pulp more cost-effectively than ever. “We are investing in the processes and equipment to ensure we can improve environmental performance and cost-effectiveness at the same time. This translates to ever better customer service,” says Harmaala.
Q4/2022
SAHANSAARENKATU PRIVATE TRACK IN WORKING ORDER
2023
Q1/2023
BIOPRODUCT MILL TEST OPERATION BEGINS
COMMISSIONING
Q3/2023
SHUTDOWN OF THE OLD MILL
Q3/2023
COMMISSIONING OF BIOPRODUCT MILL
2024
Q1/2024
DEMOLITION OF THE OLD MILL BEGINS
Kaija Pehu-Lehtonen Senior Vice President, Business Develop- ment, Metsä Fibre, has been involved in the development of the bioproduct mill concept from the outset.
Q3/2024
BIOPRODUCT MILL IN FULL PRODUCTION
2025
14
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