The Polish-Swedish group Arctic Paper is investing SEK 100 million or EUR 9.8 million in its paper mill in Munkedal, Sweden. The papermaker will modernize the hydroelectric power plant and increase its capacity from 2 to 6 megawatts.
Founded in 1871, Arctic Paper Munkedals, one of the three mills in the group, is located on a riverbank. The mill's hydroelectric generating station produces electricity from the force of the river's water. The mill employs 300 people and produces uncoated paper under the Munken brand name with two machines with a capacity of 160,000 tonnes/year.
Arctic Paper will also replace its natural gas boiler with a solid fuel boiler that will produce steam primarily from wood and recovered materials. This boiler, which is expected to come on stream this year, will reduce the mill's carbon dioxide emissions by 60%.
Work on the plant will begin in the spring of 2021. These two new facilities will cover up to 80% of Arctic Paper Munkedals' mill's energy needs.
In parallel with this modernization project, solar panels are being installed at the Arctic Paper Kostrzyn mill in Poland. If the experience is interesting, other sites could benefit from this type of equipment.
The group's third mill, Arctic Paper Grycksbo in Sweden, is already fuelled by renewable and non-fossil energy using a biofuel boiler.
