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The start-up process of Botnia in Fray Bentos begins today

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A model plant in environmental care


The start-up process of Botnia in Fray Bentos begins today

The Uruguayan authorities have last night given the authorisation for the plant
of Oy Metsä-Botnia Ab in Fray Bentos, Uruguay to start operations. 

"This is a very important moment for the company", says Erkki Varis, President
and CEO of the company. "We are starting up one of the most modern pulp mills
in the world and an example in environmental care. The mill has been designed
with the most recent and most modern technologies available and will operate
complying with the most strict standards set by the European Union and
Uruguayan legislation", he adds. 

With an investment of 1.2 billion USD the mill of Fray Bentos will be Botnia's
sixth mill and the first outside of Finland. It will have a yearly capacity of
one million tons of eucalyptus pulp which will be exported to markets in Europe
and Asia. 

The mill will have one of the most modern and efficient effluent treatment
plants which will not only treat the effluents of the mill but is also
committed to treating the municipal sewage from the city of Fray Bentos. 

The mill will reutilise, recycle and optimise the use of raw materials during
the entire production process. It will generate its own energy from renewable
sources and an excess that could eventually be sold to the national grid. 

The start-up process will be set in motion as soon as all necessary
preparations have been finalised. Botnia has trained all participating
personnel during the past two years at Botnia mills in Finland and in mills in
South America. In addition, the start-up process will be supported by an
experienced team of international experts. 

"This is the moment to thank all the people involved in transforming this
project into reality. Especially it is a moment to thank the 7,000 workers who
have participated in the construction of the mill, the more than 1,000
professionals and technicians who developed the project and all the companies
involved in the project. Without the efforts of all these it would have not
been possible that there is today in Uruguay an operation of this magnitude. In
addition, we are grateful to the community of Fray Bentos of their support and
confidence at all times", concludes Ronald Beare, Managing Director of Botnia
S.A. 

For more information: Marko Janhunen, Vice President, Communications and Public
Relations: +358-50-590 0047 

Enclosure: Fact sheet of the mill

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