Metsä Fibre and Veolia Partner in Biomethanol Production at Äänekoski Mill in Finland
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Metsä Fibre and Veolia have signed a long-term partnership agreement on the refining of crude methanol, which is generated in the production of pulp at the Äänekoski bioproduct mill (Finland), into commercial biomethanol.
As part of the agreement, Veolia will invest in the construction of a crude methanol refinery in connection with the Äänekoski bioproduct mill. The refinery will be owned and operated by Veolia and closely integrated into the bioproduct mill's processes.
"The mill's business model is based on an efficient partner network, in which various parties cooperate to upgrade new products," said Kaija Pehu-Lehtonen, SVP, Business Development for Metsä Fibre. "The ecosystem is home to businesses of various sizes and at various stages of development, which specialize in sectors such as biomaterials and bioenergy. Veolia's project is a concrete example of how our bioproduct concept can be expanded with a new product in cooperation with partners."
The bioproduct mill concept developed by Metsä Fibre makes it possible to convert pulp production side streams into valuable biochemicals, bio-based energy and other bioproducts that can be used to replace fossil-based materials and fuels.
Jacob Illeris, Business Development Director Veolia Nordic, added, "Veolia highly values how this industrial partnership has been developed based on a common vision to use natural resources more efficiently and create, from existing side streams, new sustainable bioproducts that can replace fossil-based fuels and materials."
