This past week, international packaging and paper group Mondi, South Africa, held a ceremony to celebrate the startup of a new recovery boiler at Mondi SCP, the company’s operation in Ružomberok, Slovakia. The opening ceremony took place on-site at Mondi SCP, where Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico joined fellow members of government, the project’s main suppliers, and representatives from owners Mondi Group and ECO-INVEST— the Slovak industrial and investment holding company.

 

Construction on the recovery boiler began in 2013 as part of a EUR 128 million investment to increase green electricity production and improve the mill’s overall cost position, while reducing the mill’s environmental footprint.

 

The new recovery boiler (RB 3) has replaced recovery boiler No. 1, marking a further step in the mill’s development to ensure the successful continuation of the mill’s 134-year old tradition of papermaking in the region. According to Mondi Group CEO David Hathorn, startup of the new recovery boiler will enable more eco-efficient means of increasing the production of pulp at the mill.

 

"Wherever economically and environmentally feasible, Mondi promotes resource efficiency by using innovative technologies and making continuous improvements. In line with this approach, we have committed more than EUR 430 million to green energy related projects between 2011 and 2016. RB 3 is one of these projects, and for us investing in green energy makes good business sense," said Hathorn.

 

A key part of Mondi SCP’s energy efficiency and environmental protection program, RB 3 is part of a broader investment that includes a new turbine, an extended and modernized evaporation plant, and a new lime kiln. Together, these enhancements will also enable the mill to be 100% energy self-sufficient, with 94% of its energy coming from renewable resources.

 

"During the past 10 years, the shareholders have invested more than EUR 350 million in Mondi SCP to drive innovative production and operational improvements at the mill. With the new recovery boiler, we are able to produce more pulp with greater efficiency. The new equipment will also lead to a better cost position for our products produced in Ružomberok, making Mondi SCP more competitive in the long term," explained Peter Orisich, CEO of Mondi Uncoated Fine Paper.

 

"We want to thank the Slovak government for creating an attractive investment environment for international corporations and Slovak investment holdings. This investment brings returns for all involved," says Miloslav Čurilla, chairman of the board of Mondi SCP.

 

The project involved 3,300 workers, with up to 500 people on site during the peak construction season this spring. Some 69% of all workers involved in the project were Slovakian nationals.

 

"The new recovery boiler is a positive step for our continuing presence in the region," said Mondi SCP Managing Director Roman Senecky. "Mondi SCP has earned a reputation for sustainable paper production and we are proud to build on that with this investment. In the last year we have worked closely together with the government, our suppliers, and partners to bring this project to fruition. We now have the technology to match our expertise—these are important keys to our future." 

 

Mondi SCP is the largest integrated pulp and paper mill in Slovakia, with a production capacity of 560,000 metric tpy of uncoated fine paper, 66,000 metric tpy of packaging paper, and 100,000 metric tpy of market pulp.