An environmental permit has been granted for Metsä Fibre Oy's bioproduct mill, a bark-drying and bark-gasification plant, a digestion plant, wastewater generated in the integrated mills, joint treatment of municipal wastewater from the town of Äänekoski, and Metsä Board Corporation’s wastewater treatment plant. The permit also allows wastewater from the town of Äänekoski to be treated in the bioproduct mill's wastewater treatment plant.
“The environmental permit is an important step in our preparations for making a decision on whether to invest in construction of the mill,” says Ilkka Hämälä, CEO of Metsä Fibre.
When materialised, the approximately Euro 1.1 billion bioproduct mill planned by Metsä Fibre would be the largest ever investment in the forest industry in Finland.
The mill would have an annual pulp production capacity of 1.3 million tonnes. It would be built in the existing mill area in Äänekoski, and would replace the mill currently operating in the area. If the investment requirements are met, the decision on construction of the bioproduct mill will be made in spring 2015, meaning that production would begin in 2017.
Metsä Fibre is a world-leading producer of softwood pulp for high-quality paper, board and tissue producers in Europe and Far East.
