FINLAND (News release) -- The Kemi bioproduct mill project of Metsä Fibre progressing according to plan and the mill's foundation stone was laid 13 September 2021. The foundation stone was laid to the area of fibre line of the new mill by Ismo Nousiainen, CEO of Metsä Fibre, Jari-Pekka Johansson, Project Director of the Kemi bioproduct mill project, and Mika Vuoti, the on-site contact person.

"The impact of this large-scale industrial investment is significant. The Kemi bioproduct mill will increase Finland's annual exports by around Euro 0.5 billion and its annual positive income effect through the value of the wood raw material and the purchasing of Finnish labour is likewise roughly Euro 0.5 billion," says Ismo Nousiainen, CEO of Metsä Fibre.

During the construction phase, the bioproduct mill's employment effect will be approximately 10,000 person-years, more than half of which will be seen in Kemi. The total number of employees working during the construction phase is estimated to be about 15,000.

"We are proceeding purposefully towards the start-up of the new mill in the 3Q 2023. At the moment, the project is focused on earthworks and this autumn, we will be moving on to the first equipment installations. Some 450 people are currently working on the site," says Jari-Pekka Johansson, Project Director.

Operating entirely without fossil fuels, the Kemi bioproduct mill will produce annually some 1.5 million tonnes of softwood and hardwood pulp, as well as many other bioproducts. It will also produce 2.0 TWh of renewable energy a year, which is equal to approximately 2.5% of Finland's total annual electricity production.

Metsä Fibre is a leading producer of bioproducts, biochemicals and bioenergy. Metsä Fibre is part of Metsä Group.