Stora Enso's Oulu mill in Finland has received the environmental permit for its new board production line, signalling a green light for the commencement of production next year.
Located in the Nuottasaari factory area, the Oulu Mill has been undergoing construction for the necessary buildings and converting an old paper machine into a board production line. "We have been preparing the site and transitioning the former paper machine to produce the board. With the environmental permit approved, we can start production as planned next year," says Janne Rimpiläinen, interim manager of the Oulu Mill.
Expected to increase
The new board line is expected to increase the mill's production capacity significantly. Currently, the existing board line at the mill produces up to 450,000 tons. The new line will add the capability to produce up to 750,000 tons of board annually.
- The products from the new line will differ from those of the older line; the new line will produce consumer packaging board, while the older line manufactures kraft liner for corrugated packaging, explains Rimpiläinen.
Approved conditions
Environmental impacts from the new board production line are expected to remain minimal, by the permit conditions. Efforts to reduce environmental impacts include improved wastewater treatment at the factory. According to the conditions approved by the Northern Finland Regional State Administrative Agency, the mill's nutrient discharges and thermal load will not increase.
- The impact on air quality from the new factory is expected to be minor, although there will be a slight increase in emissions of particles, nitrogen oxides, and sulfur compounds due to production expansion. However, sulfur dioxide emissions will decrease significantly, so the overall impact on air quality is quite small, and the concentrations measured in the air will still be far from the limit values, Rimpiläinen adds.
Reduced emissions
- Compared to 2019, the environmental impact of the Oulu Mill has significantly decreased. For instance, the mill's fossil carbon dioxide emissions have been reduced by over 90 per cent," says Ismo Lappalainen, the environmental manager of the Oulu Mill.
The environmental permit is granted indefinitely. There were no appeals made against the permit application, making it legally binding. This milestone underscores Stora Enso's commitment to sustainable production and reinforces its position as a leader in the transition towards a more sustainable, low-carbon future.
Source: Yle Uutiset