Earlier this week, the Södra (Sweden) Board of Directors decided to invest SEK 1 billion in its pulp mill at Mörrum. The investment is the second stage of a long-term initiative at Södra Cell Mörrum, and will increase the mill's capacity by 45,000 metric tpy. 

"This is great news for us here at the mill, because our competitiveness and opportunities will increase. Södra's decision to invest in Mörrum is also important for the region," said Stefan Sandberg, site manager at Södra Cell Mörrum.

This particular investment includes a new evaporator and a modernization of the brown stock washing system in the dissolving pulp line, where pulp for textile uses is produced. A new evaporator will make it possible to increase the production rate, as well as deliveries of energy products, such as electricity, district heating, and biofuels. The new investment will increase production capacity by 45,000 metric tpy, bringing the total production of paper and dissolving pulp to 470,000 metric tpy.

"The investment will allow us to meet customer demands for both paper and dissolving pulp. Our facility at Mörrum produces high-grade pulp with unique properties. We will now be able to offer higher volumes of these sought-after products to the market. In addition, dissolving pulp and paper pulp based on a renewable source are highly interesting from a climate perspective. More and more people are beginning to see the significance of finding materials that facilitate the transition toward a fossil-free society," said Sandberg.

The project will commence this spring and is scheduled for completion by November 2017.