Bioproduct mill project

Metsä Fibre, a part of Metsä Group, has started pre-engineering project to build a new bioproduct mill in Kemi, Finland. If implemented, at EUR 1.5 billion, this will be the largest investment in the history of Finland’s forest industry. The Kemi bioproduct mill would directly employ approximately 250 people and, in its entire direct value chain, roughly 2,500 people in total. There is an increase of 1,500 people compared to the current situation. The employment impact in the construction phase would be almost 10,000 person-years of which over half in Kemi.

The Kemi bioproduct mill would produce some 1.5 million tonnes of softwood and hardwood pulp a year as well as numerous other bioproducts. The annual pulpwood consumption of the new Kemi bioproduct mill would be approximately 7.6 million cubic meters. The aim is to source the pulpwood for the mill from Finland.  The bioproduct mill would be the world top regarding to productional, environmental and energy efficiency. The mill would not use any fossil fuels at all and its self-sufficiency in electricity is 250%.

The pre-engineering project includes pre-engineering, environmental impact assessment (EIA), environmental permit process and for example the equipment contracts. The Lapland ELY Centre issued its reasoned conclusion on the EIA report of Metsä Fibre’s Kemi bioproduct mill, thereby concluding the environmental impact assessment. Main equipment negotiations and the development of the logistics required for the new mill are also in progress, in addition to preliminary work for the construction phase, the environmental permit application process and the financing negotiations.

The pre-engineering project concerning the Kemi bioproduct mill continues, and the readiness to make the investment decision on this roughly EUR 1.5 billion mill is expected to be reached in the autumn of 2020.

Pine sawmill project

Metsä Fibre began to build a pine sawmill at its mill site in Rauma. The estimated annual production of the sawmill would be approximately 750,000 cubic meters. The new sawmill would be the most modern and efficient unit in its field in the world.

The new sawmill would directly employ approximately 100 people and in its direct value chain roughly 500 people in total. The value of the investment is approximately EUR 200 million. The employment impact in the construction phase would be approximately 1,500 person-years.

The sawmill’s annual sawlog consumption would be approximately 1.5 million cubic meters. Wood for the sawmill is planned to be sources from Finland. The increased sawn timber volumes would be sold mainly to European and Asian customers.

The construction work will start in the autumn of 2020, and production is set to begin during the third quarter of 2022.

Renewal project of Husum integrate's pulp mill

Metsä Board has concluded a prefeasibility study related to renewal of Husum integrate’s pulp mill in Sweden and has started pre-engineering of the first phase of the renewal. The plan is to build a new recovery boiler and a turbine to replace the mill’s old recovery boilers and turbines. This investment would amount to approximately EUR 300 million and it would be implemented during 2019–2022. The mill’s two fibre lines are planned to be replaced with one new line in the second phase of the renewal in the 2020’s.

The investment aims to develop Metsä Board’s pulp and energy production. Metsä Board received permission to begin the construction of Husum’s new recovery boiler. The final investment decision will be made when the environmental permit has been secured.