FINLAND (News release) -- Metsä Fibre and Linde have signed a preliminary agreement of an on-site oxygen supply to Metsä Fibre's new bioproduct mill in Kemi, Finland. The agreement includes construction of an on-site oxygen plant based on VPSA (Vacuum Pressure Swing Adsorption) technology, as well as operation and maintenance of the plant.
Linde's oxygen plant in Kemi, Finland would be one of the world's largest oxygen plants based on the VPSA technology and it delivers many benefits including oxygen on demand and adjustable, high energy efficient, and fully automated operation. It will be monitored and operated from Linde's remote operation center in Avesta, Sweden.
"We have co-operated for a long time with Linde and are used to trust the technology of Linde, for example we have very positive experiences with Linde VPSA technology and on-site oxygen supply to our mill in Äänekoski with a high efficiency and operational reliability. Oxygen is an essential chemical in pulp production, and the uninterrupted supply is of primary importance to the production process, product quality and operational safety", says Project Director Jari-Pekka Johansson from Metsä Fibre.
The total investment of the new bioproduct mill is estimated to Euro 1.5 billion and it will produce some 1.5 million tons of softwood and hardwood pulp per year, as well as many other bioproducts. The bioproduct mill will not use any fossil fuels at all, and its electricity self-sufficiency rate will be 250%.
The Kemi bioproduct mill project is progressing as planned. In addition to equipment purchasing, the project is at the moment focused on environmental permit process, the financing negotiations and the logistics required by the new mill.
Metsä Fibre is the world's leading producer of bleached softwood pulp and a major producer of sawn timber. Metsä Fibre is part of Metsä Group.
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