Metsä Fibre, part of Metsä Group, has awarded ÅF Pöyry with the pre-engineering assignment for new bioproduct mill, Kemi. The target for the ongoing pre-engineering project is to create conditions for building a bioproduct mill with an annual production capacity of approximately 1.5 million metric tons of softwood and hardwood pulp to Metsä Group’s current mill site in Kemi. In addition to pulp, the mill would produce various other bioproducts. This mill would be the biggest wood processing unit in the Northern hemisphere. The new mill would replace the current Kemi pulp mill with an annual capacity of approximately 620,000 metric tons. The total investment would amount to approximately EUR 1.5 billion. The final investment decision related to the Kemi bioproduct mill is expected to be made earliest in summer 2020.

Metsä Fibre has also awarded ÅF Pöyry with the pre-engineering assignment for a pine sawmill at its mill site in Rauma. The estimated annual production of this sawmill would be approximately 750,000 cubic meters. The new sawmill would be the most modern and efficient unit in its field in the world. The level of technology and utilisation of data will be clearly raised higher, compared to current sawmills. The total investment would amount to approximately EUR 200 million. The final investment decision related to the Rauma sawmill is expected to be made in early 2020.

These pre-engineering assignments are part of project planning phase that include, among other things, EIA (Environmental Impact Assessment) and environmental permit processes, main equipment contracts and investment proposals.

"ÅF Pöyry serves us with their competence in these large industrial investment pre-engineering projects. We have common target to design the most modern bioproduct mill and sawmill, that don’t use fossil fuels and are best in their classes", says Ismo Nousiainen, CEO of Metsä Fibre.

Metsä Fibre and ÅF Pöyry has co-operated in several assignments also earlier.

"These assignments further strengthen the co-operation between Metsä Group and ÅF Pöyry, and we are pleased to be able to support Metsä Fibre in these strategically important sustainable assignments, targeted to reducing the use of fossil fuels, increase production of renewable energy and increase carbon dioxide stored in wood products that have a long lifespan", says Nicholas Oksanen, Executive Vice President, Head of Division Process Industries of ÅF Pöyry.

The value of the order is not disclosed.