Metsä Tissue Files Environmental Permit Application for Mariestad Project in Sweden

Metsä Tissue, part of Metsä Group, has filed an environmental permit application with the Land and Environment Court in Vänersborg concerning its plans to increase fresh fiber based tissue paper production at its Mariestad mill in Sweden.

The Land and Environment Court will decide in the matter after reviewing the application and considering the opinions of authorities and stakeholders. The authority is expected to issue its decision on the matter within the regular processing time, in 12−18 months.

As a part of the permit application, Metsä Tissue organized a public consultation and hearing event between April 17 and May 8. The documents related to the permit application are available in Swedish on Metsä Tissue’s website at www.metsatissue.com/mariestad. The website also offers the chance to send related questions or comments to the company.

In September 2019, Metsä Tissue launched an environmental permit procedure and feasibility study, which would allow the production of tissue paper to be doubled at the Mariestad mill. The technical pre-engineering of the project is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2020, and it is intended to create the preconditions for the final investment decision to be made in the second quarter of 2021 at the earliest. Obtaining an environmental permit is one of the prerequisites for the final investment decision.

The investments planned to be implemented at the first stage would increase the annual tissue paper production capacity at Mariestad from 70,000 mtpy to 140,000 mtpy, starting fully in 2024. The plans and the scope of the project may change as a result of the feasibility study. The estimated value of the potential investments to be implemented in 2021–2023 is roughly EUR 230 million. The renewed mill will use best available techniques (BAT), and the key targets of the projects will be defined as part of Metsä Tissue’s 2030 sustainability objectives.

As a part of the environmental permit process, Metsä Tissue has signed a letter of intent with the municipality of Mariestad on the purchase of a land area of approximately 30 hectares next to the current mill area. In addition, Metsä Tissue has purchased approximately two hectares of land from a private landowner.

Metsä Tissue is a leading tissue paper supplier to households and professionals in Europe and the world’s leading supplier of greaseproof papers. Its brands are Lambi, Serla, Mola, Tento, Katrin and SAGA. With production units in five countries, it employs around 2,500 people. In 2019, sales were EUR 1 billion. Metsä Tissue is part of Metsä Group.

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