UPM Concludes Biorefinery Assessments

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UPM, Helsinki, Finland, reports that it has concluded environmental assessments for possible second generation biofuel refineries at Rauma and Kuusankoski, Finland. The Southeast Finland Regional Environment Centre noted that UPM's assessment "is well prepared and includes a lot of information about the different implementation alternatives and their environmental impacts." The authority concluded that the assessment is sufficient and meets the requirements of the EIA law and statute.

UPM says it also is assessing alternative locations for a refinery producing transport biofuels at UPM's mill sites in other countries. The company adds hat it is now starting an environmental impact and risk assessment study as part of preparations for a permitting procedure in Strasbourg, France. The plan is to study the option of building a second generation biorefinery at the Stracel paper mill site. This process is estimated to last about a year.

UPM, together with Andritz/Carbona, has been testing gasification technology to produce biofuel from forest energy wood near Chicago, Ill, USA. The initial testing program has been successfully completed. UPM adds that it is continuing to develop the technical concept and the technology solution is estimated to be ready by summer 2010.

"We are making necessary preparations both concerning the technical and the permit issues in the light of an investment decision. Time for the investment decision is not right now but later after the environmental impact assessments have been done and the final technical concept has been selected," said Petri Kukkonen, director for UPM's biofuels business area.