FINLAND (News release) -- Metsä Group's Kemi bioproduct mill has been restarted in stages and the mill has returned to production.

The repair work caused by the gas explosion in the mill's evaporation plant in March has been completed, and other annual maintenance work was done during the production shutdown.

To ensure the high usability and the planned lifespan of the evaporation plant, the units damaged in the explosion will be completely replaced at a later date to be determined.

The bioproduct mill is now continuing to increase production according to start-up plan.

Metsä Group's pulp and sawmill business Metsä Fibre produces not only pulp and sawn timber but also other bioproducts such as biochemicals and bioenergy.