Pulp based products are part of people’s everyday lives. The demand for Nordic softwood pulp continues to grow globally. The growth in demand is driven by megatrends like replacing products made of fossil-based raw materials with wood-based products, discontinuing the use of fossil fuels and increasing the production of renewable energy.

To respond to this demand Metsä Fibre Oy has done the investment decision to build the new bioproduct mill. In Metsä Fibre’s concept the renewable wood raw material and production side streams are used in full as different bioproducts, thus replacing fossil-based materials and fossil fuels. The value of the investment is EUR 1.6 billion and the construction phase will be completed during the third quarter of 2023.

The Kemi bioproduct mill will produce some 1.5 million tonnes of softwood and hardwood pulp per year, as well as many other bioproducts. It will also produce 2.0 TWh of renewable electricity per year. The planning of the new bioproduct mill is based on a high degree of environmental, energy and material efficiency. The bioproduct mill will be built using the best available technology (BAT). The technological level meets and even exceeds the EU BREF requirements. Despite the clearly increased production compared with the current Kemi pulp mill, the new bioproduct mill will stay below the emission limits of the current environmental permit of the existing mill.

“The Kemi bioproduct mill is a global leader in environmental, energy and material efficiency. The mill will also create the basis for development of a local industrial ecosystem with new bioproducts and partnerships. No fossil fuels will be needed in production, and excess renewable electricity will be transferred to the national grid. The bioproduct mill project has progressed according to plan. We want the best professionals to work with us as our partners and we require our partners to commit to the goals of the project in terms of safety, schedules and quality,” says Jari-Pekka Johansson, Project Director of Metsä Fibre.

“The values highlighted in this project are reflecting very well AFRY’s ambition in sustainability, digitalisation, safety, and overall social responsibility. Our competence in Bioindustry and Clean energy sectors will bring added value to this project. We are very honoured to continue our good co-operation with Metsä Fibre, and all project partners, which was already started in the pre-phases of the project,” says Kalle Rasinmäki, Head of Division Process Industries Finland and Asia.

The value of the order is not disclosed. The orders are recognised within the Process Industries Division order stock in Q1/2020.