Metsä Fibre's Kemi bioproduct mill receives environmental permit

The Regional State Administrative Agency for Northern Finland has granted environmental and water supply permits to Metsä Fibre's bioproduct mill in Kemi, part of Metsä Group, on December 18, 2020. The environmental permit sets limit values for the emissions of the new facility.

The granted permit enables the next phase of planning and decision-making for the Kemi bioproduct mill investment, with an anticipated decision in early 2021. Metsä Fibre is currently conducting a detailed analysis of the permit conditions.

The planned bioproduct mill is designed for a high degree of environmental, material, and energy efficiency. Despite significantly increased production volumes, the new mill is expected to operate below the emission limits of the existing Kemi pulp mill's current environmental permit. The facility will be built using Best Available Technology (BAT) principles, incorporating advanced technologies in areas like wastewater treatment.

The bioproduct mill is projected to produce 1.5 million tonnes of softwood and hardwood pulp annually, along with other bioproducts. The facility will not use fossil fuels and is designed to achieve 250 percent self-sufficiency in power generation. The estimated investment for the project is EUR 1.5 billion, with a construction period of approximately two and a half years.