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.
About Sappi
Sappi Europe SA is the leading European producer of coated fine paper used in premium magazines, catalogues, books and high-end print advertising. Headquartered in Brussels, Belgium, Sappi Europe is recognised for innovation and quality. Its graphic paper brands include Magno™, Quatro™, Vantage™, Royal™, Galerie™ and GalerieArt™ ranges. Algro®, Leine®, Parade®, Fusion® and atelier™ are the brands for innovative solutions of speciality papers and boards. Sappi papers are produced in mills accredited with ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001 certification and EMAS registration for all our mills in the EU. Sappi European mills hold chain-of-custody certification under the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC®) and/or the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC™) schemes. Sappi Europe SA is a division of Sappi Limited (JSE), a global company headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa, with over 13,000 employees and manufacturing operations on three continents in seven countries, sales offices in 50 countries, and customers in over 100 countries around the world. Learn more about Sappi at www.sappi.com.
About Sappi Kirkniemi Mill
Sappi Kirkniemi mill in Lohja, Finland is part of Sappi Europe. Annually it produces 735,000 tons of high quality publication papers which are used for premium quality publications all over the world. The mill employs 550 paper industry professionals from production to product development. Over 90% of the mill’s production is exported.
The mill operates under management systems consisting of certified Environmental Management System (ISO 14001), Energy Management System (ISO 50001), Occupational Health and Safety Management System (OHSAS 18001), Quality Management System (ISO 9001) and Chain Of Custody Verification from the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification® (PEFC) scheme and Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC).