Mercer Completes Analysis for Converting Celgar, Stendal to NBSK-Dissolving Pulp Swing Production
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Mercer International, New York, N.Y., USA, reports that it has completed a preliminary feasibility analysis for its Celgar and Stendal mills (Canada) with respect to enhancing operations and margins. In addition to other enhancements, the preliminary analysis identified that, for a capital cost of approximately $30 million to $40 million per mill, they could have the capacity to produce NBSK pulp, as currently, and dissolving pulp (DP) when market conditions are favorable.
The enhancements would permit the mills to become "swing mills," capable of swinging production from NBSK pulp to DP to opportunistically maximize realizations. DP is a high grade specialty product that commands premium pricing relative to NBSK. It is used for, among other things, rayon, a renewable textile fiber that is a substitute for cotton, and other fossil fuel derived synthetic fibers.
- Based on the preliminary feasibility analysis, the company's facilities would permit Celgar and Stendal to be first and second quartile cost producers of DP respectively. Due to size and other considerations, it was decided not to undertake a feasibility study for the Rosenthal mill.
- While the company will always maintain its focus on being a leader in NBSK pulp, the enhancements would result in the Celgar and Stendal mills having an estimated annual DP production capacity of 400,000 and 500,000 metric tons, respectively.
- To maintain the company's core NBSK business and commitment to customers, only some production would be adjusted to DP to realize enhanced margins. If production were shifted for half the year, the annual production capacities at Celgar and Stendal would be approximately 260,000 and 300,000 metric tons of NBSK and 200,000 and 260,000 metric tons of DP, respectively.
- The project would take about 16 months to implement, with no expected impact to NBSK production with the exception of an approximate 3-week required shutdown for project tie-in at the end. Trial campaigns of DP production could begin in early 2013 if a decision to order equipment was made in the third quarter of 2011;
Initially the company would most likely implement the project at one mill. As part of a final technical and feasibility study, it is implementing a process to select which mill and timing. Factors affecting mill selection will include levels of government support and technical limitations. A potential technical limitation has been identified for Celgar due to the mill's use of a continuous digester, while no technical limitations have been identified at Stendal as it employs super batch digesters.
Jimmy S.H. Lee, president and chairman, noted that "dissolving pulp is experiencing a very robust market and while a pullback in pricing is expected, the long term outlook is quite promising. This opportunity is only possible because of the capabilities of our large modern mills. This project would not change our core commitment to NBSK pulp but will let us further realize upon our mills' strengths. We believe that we will be able to take further advantage of the excess energy produced from DP to increase our power generating capacity and enhance electricity revenues."
The company expects to complete a final technical and feasibility study and make a decision on proceeding by mid-year.
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