This page contains frequently asked questions about the project.
Our principal product will be chemical sulphate pulp from softwood (pine and spruce), also known as NBSK (Northern Bleached Softwood Kraft). A smaller portion (about 15 %) will be chemical pulp from hardwood (birch), also known as BHKP (Bleached Hardwood Kraft Pulp). Both will be produced from the region’s local fibre wood on a single state-of-the-art pulping line.
The projected annual capacity is 600 000 ADMT (air dried metric tonnes) of pulp production, split approximately 85/15 softwood/hardwood.
ProxiWood procurement concept: Wood sourced locally from managed forests. Also reduces transport distance and CO2-emissions.
The mill uses pulp wood mainly from young and middle-aged commercial forests. Thinning ensures healthy growth of forests. In the harvesting process, pine, spruce and birch are combined as the forests are natural. This is why it is imperative that part (15%) of the mill’s production is hardwood pulp.
At present, only about half of the annual growth of the forest in Kainuu region is harvested (Source: LUKE). Because of current low pulp wood demand, thinning is being neglected. Increased thinning and cutting will benefit both the forest growth and the regional economy.
The mill will use about 3.5 million m3 wood raw material annually. This includes sawlogs, pulp wood and commercial round wood size energy wood. In addition to the forest sourced fibre wood, the mill will use woodchips generated as byproducts by sawmills.
About a quarter of Kainuu’s forest land is excluded from commercial utilisation through protection and conservation. Over 90 % of the commercially available forests are certified. The mill supports sustainable forestry and will certify its wood procurement system.
The company has been waiting the conclusion of the environmental permit process, most recently involving appeals under consideration by the Supreme Administrative Court, before taking further steps towards an investment decision. The favourable decision announced by the Court on 27th of March 2024 means that construction of the mill, estimated to require 3-4 years, can commence as soon as solid financing is available, and an investment decision has been made.
The needs of future operations have been taken into account in the mill site planning. The design combines the requirements of pulp and additional and bioproducts.
The environmental impact of the mill has been evaluated in the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). During this process, environmental impacts were evaluated, reported and published.
The production process begins with sorting, debarking and mechanically treating the wood. Wood chips are processed in a digester, where the fibres are separated from hemicellulose and lignin. The method can be the sulphate (kraft) or acid sulphite. The process can be batch or continuous.
Raw pulp is brownish in colour, but then washed and usually bleached, dried before baling and delivery to customers for further processing.
The fresh water will come from the Oulujärvi lake.
The purified effluents will be passed into the Oulujärvi lake. The technology applied to the process will be selected on BAT-principles (BAT = Best Available Technology).
Pulp mill use sulphuric acid to manufacture bleaching chemicals and to adjust process pH. Effluents therefore contain sulphates. The amount of sulphates in wastewater can be reduced by optimising chemical use and seeking substitute alternatives.
Sulphates have long since ceased to be a critical issue in modern pulp production, and are not considered an environmental threat to waterways. There are many pulp mills larger than Paltamo located by smaller waterways. Modern mills control sulphate concentrations effectively with proven technology. All Paltamo’s processes are based on BAT (Best Available Technology).
AOX, or chlorinated organic compounds, are formed when chlorine dioxide reacts with residual lignin during pulp bleaching.
AOX emissions decreased already in the 90s, as elemental chlorine use was discontinued in bleaching. Today’s mills use chlorine dioxide is used instead and its use minimised with oxygen and peroxide stages. Thus AOX emissions have declined significantly and current AOX levels have been determined to have no effect on toxicity of the effluent.
The current shareholders believe that the Paltamo mill venture is not only feasible, but an attractive business opportunity that will attract investment. Management is reaching out to the most logical potential partners, who have the resources and industry understanding to ensure financing that can make the mill a reality.