Metsä-Botnia to Build Gasification Plant at its Joutseno Mill


Metsa, Finland, 10 February 2011 -- The board of directors of Metsä-Botnia, part of Metsäliitto Group, has decided to invest in a gasification plant at the company's Joutseno mill. The investment will intensify the use of renewable energy at the mill.

The investment will replace fossil fuel used in lime kiln with biofuel, which is manufactured from bark. The mill will become a carbon dioxide-neutral plant during its standard production. The gasification plant will use the mill’s excess heat during drying of the bark. The investment is an indication of Metsä-Botnia's leading position in the use of renewable energy.

The total value of the investment is approximately EUR 20 million, and the Ministry of Employment and the Economy has granted the investment energy support for EUR 4.2 million. Negotiations regarding the main equipment suppliers are currently ongoing. Construction work will begin in June 2011, and the new plant will be commissioned at the end of 2012.

The Joutseno mill specializes in manufacturing pulp for wood-fiber printing papers and for high-quality coated printing and speciality papers. The production capacity is 650,000 metric tons per annum and the mill employs 160 skilled professionals. The energy self-sufficiency is 170%.