Metsä Group Shuts Down Kemi Bioproduct Mill in Finland Due to Gas Explosion

March 26, 2024 - A gas explosion occurred at Metsä Group's Kemi bioproduct mill in the evaporation plant during welding work on Thursday 21 March 2024. Three people were slightly exposed to hydrogen sulphide and were referred for a health check. The persons have returned to work after the check-up.

After securing the area, an investigation into the material damage was launched. According to current information, the repair work will take 10 - 12 weeks. The production will be started when the repair work has been completed and the safe operation of the mill has been ensured.

The extent of the damage is currently being investigated, and the timetable will be refined as the investigations progress.

The production shutdown at the Kemi bioproduct mill led also to a production shutdown at Metsä Board's Kemi board mill, which is part of the same mill integrate. The unbleached pulp needed for the board mill cannot be produced without the chemical cycle of the bioproduct mill.

The Kemi bioproduct mill, which started-up in September of 2023, has the capacity to produce 1,020,000 tonnes per year (tpy) of softwood pulp, 300,000 tpy of hardwood pulp, and 180,000tpy of unbleached pulp. In addition, the mill produces tall oil and turpentine, as well as two terawatt hours of renewable electricity per year.

Metsä Group uses wood to make recyclable products for the day-to-day lives of millions of people globally. The Group focuses on wood supply and forest services, wood products, pulp, paperboards, and tissue and greaseproof papers.

SOURCE: Metsä Group