Vaasa Administrative Court confirmed the environmental permit for Metsä Group's Kemi bioproduct mill

By its decision of 4 November 2022, the Vaasa Administrative Court upheld the environmental permit package granted to Metsä Group's Kemi bioproduct mill. On 18 December 2020, the Regional State Administrative Agency for Northern Finland granted environmental and water supply permits for the Kemi bioproduct mill. Three appeals were filed against the permit during the period of the permit's availability, to which Metsä Fibre submitted a response to the Vaasa Administrative Court on 2 September 2021. The decision of the Vaasa Administrative Court was issued on 4 November 2022. The decision of the Administrative Court can be appealed by applying to the Supreme Administrative Court for leave to appeal.

"The planning of the Kemi bioproduct mill is based on high environmental, material and energy efficiency. The new bioproduct mill will operate below the emission limits of the existing environmental permit for the existing pulp mill in Kemi. The bioproduct mill is being built according to BAT (Best Available Techniques) and partly even more advanced technologies, such as the wastewater treatment plant and the sulphuric acid plant," says Metsä Fibre's CEO Ismo Nousiainen.

The investment in the Kemi bioproduct mill amounts to EUR 1.85 billion and the new mill will start production in the third quarter of 2023. The mill will produce around 1.5 million tonnes of softwood and hardwood pulp and a number of other bioproducts annually. It will use no fossil fuels and will have a high electricity self-sufficiency of 250%. The new bioproduct mill will further strengthen Metsä Group's position as an electricity producer based on domestic renewable fuels.