(UPM, Kuusankoski, September 27, 2007) - The topping-out ceremony for the chemical recovery plant project at UPM’s Kymi pulp mill in Kuusankoski was held on September 27. About 700 guests and project personnel attended the ceremony.
The investment will enable the Kymi integrated fine paper and pulp mill to increase its energy self-sufficiency, cut production costs and reduce the environmental load such as carbon dioxide emissions. The plant also allows for the increased use of biofuels and the doubling of bioelectricity production capacity. In addition, the investment supports an increase in pulp production in the future. The new recovery plant will be on stream in summer 2008.
The recovery plant project, REC08, aims to replace the two outdated and cost-inefficient recovery lines from 1964 and 1976 with a modern plant.
Currently, the project personnel stands at 692, and the focus so far has been on completing the construction work. Construction crews will soon give way to the equipment installation crews, who will be busiest at the end of the year. At its peak at year-end the project will employ about 900 persons. The number of foreign workers at the multinational project is currently about 100, and they come from i.e. Russia, Poland, Estonia, Slovakia, Hungary and Germany.
A total of 116 companies have so far worked on the project. Of them, 50 have been construction companies. Over 100 equipment and installation agreements have also been signed, and building projects total nearly 50.
Almost 60% of all building contracts and commissions have been carried out by companies from northern Kymenlaakso. The share of local subcontractors in equipment delivery and installation has been clearly smaller.
The project schedule has been demanding and labour intensive. For example, almost 140,000 tonnes of bedrock has been excavated and crushed for use as the plant foundation. At the same time, 18,000 m³ of concrete has been cast and 5,200 precast concrete elements installed. The project also includes the installation of almost 6,000 tonnes of steel structures.
For further information please contact:
Mr Matti Haukijärvi, Vice President and Project Director, tel . +358 40 543 2901
Mr Yngve Lindström, Vice President and General Manager, tel. +358 40 503 4154
