Double A to Restart Pulp Production

Staff

Prachinburi, Thailand 18 Dec 2013 -- Another important step has been announced for the Alizay mill in France. After the takeover of the paper machine, Double A has now plans to restart pulp production as well. The existing line has been down for several years.

The Alizay mill is set to become an integrated paper mill again. Thai pulp and paper manufacturer Double A plans to restart pulp production at the mill in northern France. The French Eure Department said it had signed an agreement with the company on the sale of the site's pulp line and related lands and buildings. Double A reportedly aims at restarting pulp production in the first half of 2015.

Double A is said to invest €50m in the restart of pulp production. The Eure Department said that approximately 100 employees will be hired in order to modernise and start up the line. The paper mill currently employs 150 people. "In deciding to repeatedly invest in the Alizay mill, Double A shows [...] it intends to use it as a production base for the European market," said Jean Louis Destans, President of Eure General Council.

Double A had acquired parts of the Alizay mill from the Department of Eure in January this year. The company had taken over the properties and assets needed to restart paper production and the biomass power plant for €18m. Production of uncoated woodfree paper was then restarted in June. The pulp needed is imported from Double A mills in Thailand.

Metsä Board, the former owner of the site, discontinued mixed hardwood pulp production at the Alizay site in March 2009 since it was no longer profitable. The 300,000 tpy pulp line was closed down for good in 2010.

The Alizay mill has an annual capacity of 300,000 t of office paper. In addition to manufacturing uncoated woodfree paper, the company said in January it would also resume production of recycled paper at the mill.