Progress in Metsä Group's bioproduct mill project: demolition of old pulp mill begins
Press release 9 October 2014
Metsä Group is preparing to build a next-generation bioproduct mill in Äänekoski. The next concrete step is to demolish the existing, decommissioned pulp mill to make room for the new bioproduct mill planned for the same site. The demolition work will begin on Thursday 9 October 2014 at noon and is expected to last for about six months.
The final investment decision on the new bioproduct mill is planned to be made next spring, in which case the new mill would become operational during 2017. Demolition will start early, so that construction of the new mill can begin as soon as a decision is reached on the new investment.
The bioproduct mill project organisation is responsible for the demolition project. Metsä Fibre has chosen Delete Kierrätys- ja Purkupalvelut Oy, a Finnish company that specialises in industrial demolition, as the head contractor. The two companies have previously engaged in cooperation at other Metsä Fibre mills.
The old sulphate pulp mill in Äänekoski operated from 1961 to 1985. The process machinery was removed in the 90s, and the mill has been empty ever since. The existing buildings have a volume of about 250,000 m3 – about 2.5 times the size of Finland's Parliament House. Its demolition will generate crushed concrete and brick, which will be used during excavation work for the new mill. Other waste will be placed at appropriate sites in accordance with the waste management licence.
The demolition site will be cordoned off from the rest of the mill area, and the demolition work will not interrupt the operations of the other mills. The demolition will not cause any noise disturbances or environmental hazards.
For more information, contact Timo Merikallio, Project Director, Metsä Fibre Oy, tel. +358 (0)50 5989 342.
Metsä Group is a responsible forest industry group whose products’ main raw material is renewable and sustainably grown northern wood. Metsä Group focuses on tissue and cooking papers, consumer packaging paperboards, pulp, wood products, and wood supply and forest services. Its high-quality products combine renewable raw materials, customer-orientation, sustainable development and innovation. Metsä Group’s sales totalled EUR 4.9 billion in 2013, and it employs approximately 11,000 people. The Group operates in some 30 countries. Metsäliitto Cooperative is the parent company of Metsä Group and is owned by approximately 123,000 Finnish forest owners.
www.metsagroup.com
Metsä Fibre is a world-leading producer of softwood pulp, whose main brand is Botnia. Our main products – sustainably and cost-efficiently produced bleached softwood and birch pulps – are specially developed for the production of high-quality tissue and printing papers, speciality products and board. Metsä Fibre has four pulp mills in Finland. Our sales in 2013 totalled approximately EUR 1.3 billion, and we employ some 900 people. Metsä Fibre is part of Metsä Group.
www.biotuotetehdas.fi and www.metsafibre.com