CHINA -- Stora Enso says its consumer board machine at Beihai mill in China successfully started production on 26 May. The first consumer board on reel was produced 18 months after the start-up of Stora Enso's large-scale mill construction project in Beihai, Guangxi region.

The project started from a greenfield site. In addition to the board machine, it includes a full site with infrastructure, power plant, water and effluent treatment capacities. Highest levels of work safety standards have been followed. With a peak of 5,500 workers on site, over 16 million working hours have been accomplished with only one Lost Time Accident.

The total investment in the project is Euro 800 million, including a bleached chemi-thermomechanical (BCTMP) pulp mill with an annual capacity of 220,000 tonnes, operational in the 4Q 2016.

The board machine is expected to reach full production within 18‒24 months. In full operation, the mill will have an annual capacity of 450,000 tonnes of liquid packaging board and other high-grade paperboard products.

The official inauguration will be held on 16 June 2016, at the Beihai mill.