Demolition project of Metsä Fibre’s old Kemi pulp mill starts

Metsä Fibre press release 18.10.2023

Metsä Fibre, part of Metsä Group, closed down the old pulp mill in Kemi with the start-up of the new Kemi bioproduct mill. The securitisation and preparation for dismantling of the old mill started immediately after the shutdown. The actual demolition will start in early 2024 and the project will run until 2025.

"In the first phase, the old mill will be made safe so that the dismantling process is not dangerous and the work goes as smoothly as possible," says Erkka Tahvanainen, VP Production Development , Metsä Fibre, who is responsible for the dismantling project. "The demolition project will employ a few dozen people and will involve both our own people and external operators." The machinery and equipment of the demolished factory will be recycled for reuse as different metals.

The Kemi bioproduct mill produces 1.5 million tonnes of softwood and hardwood pulp annually. It uses zero fossil fuels and will be completely waste-free by 2030. Featuring cutting-edge technology, the mill operates a fully-fledged circular economy, as all the wood raw material and production side streams are efficiently used for various bioproducts and bioenergy. For example, the mill produces tall oil and turpentine, as well as two terawatt hours of renewable electricity per year, which is equivalent to the annual consumption of 100,000 electrically heated single-family homes. This accounts for approximately 2.5 per cent of Finland’s total electricity production. Thanks to its efficient chemical cycles and other environmentally efficient solutions, the new mill’s emissions are lower than the limits specified in the currently valid environmental permit for the closed Kemi pulp mill, despite the considerable increase in production capacity.

Contact requests:
Tiina Tassi, Communications Director, Metsä Fibre, tel. 040 833 4811

Metsä Group
metsagroup.com

Metsä Group is leading the way in advancing the bioeconomy. We invest in growth, bioproduct development and a fossil free future. The raw material for our products is renewable wood from sustainably managed northern forests. We focus on the growth sectors of the forest industry: wood supply and forest services, wood products, pulp, fresh fibre paperboards, as well as tissue and greaseproof papers.  

Metsä Group’s annual sales amount to approximately EUR 7 billion, and we have around 9,500 employees in 30 countries. We promote a culture of diversity, equality and inclusion. Our international Group has its roots in the Finnish forests: our parent company is Metsäliitto Cooperative which is owned by more than 90,000 forest owners.  

Follow Metsä Group: 
X  LinkedIn   Facebook   YouTube   Instagram   Slideshare
 

Metsä Fibre
metsagroup.com/metsafibre

Metsä Fibre is a leading producer of bioproducts, biochemicals and bioenergy. We are the world’s largest producer of softwood market pulp and a globally significant manufacturer of sawn timber. There is a growing demand for our high-quality products, as renewable wood provides a responsible alternative to fossil-based materials. 

In 2022 our sales totalled approximately EUR 3.1 billion, and we have around 1,600 employees. Metsä Fibre is part of Metsä Group.