In 2013, Sappi Europe announced its intention to significantly invest (EUR 56m) in its Kirkniemi Mill in Lohja, Finland. The decision to build a new power plant was key to supporting future operations, safeguarding the competitiveness of the mill, and backing the company’s drive for cost leadership. Combining energy, enthusiasm and commitment, the new plant has been finished six months ahead of schedule.

In what promises to be a very exciting day in the history of the Kirkniemi Mill, inauguration proceedings for the new plant will take place on Friday 11th September in the presence of Mr Olli Rehn, Minister for Economic Affairs (Finland), Mr Pasi Laine, CEO of Valmet and Mr Berry Wiersum, CEO of Sappi Europe.

Kirkniemi Mill’s goal is to continuously improve its energy efficiency. The new power plant will significantly reduce the mill’s cost base by decreasing energy costs and securing energy supply. The plant will flexibly use solid fuels such as bark from the mill’s debarking process, and other wood based fuels and coal. The technique will facilitate a remarkable increase of biomass fuel in the mill’s energy production. The new boiler circulates fluidized bed (CFB) and its fuel power is 96 MW. Underlining Sappi’s commitment to sustainable development, processes are based on BAT – Best Available Technology. The plant designs have taken current and future requirements into consideration to ensure the highest possible standards are met.

Commenting on the starting of the plant, Martti Savelainen, Mill Director of Sappi Kirkniemi said: “The new power plant is key to the sustainable future of Kirkniemi. We are delighted to be starting operations ahead of time and feel confident that this investment will drive the competitiveness of the mill. Kirkniemi is an effective unit committed to delivering value to the Sappi group in a sustainable way.”

Additional Information
·  Construction of the new plant started in May 2014 and finished on 17 July 2015, six months ahead of the planned schedule
·  Valmet is the main supplier of the new plant
·  Sappi Kirkniemi Mill joined the national energy savings agreement in 1997 and the national energy efficiency agreement in 2009.
·  As an indication of Kirkniemi Mill’s systematic work towards improving its energy efficiency, the international ISO 50001 certificate was granted in spring 2012.

 

sappi.com

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