Stora Enso, Finland, has started a feasibility study and an environmental impact assessment (EIA) for a possible investment in Oulu. The feasibility study and the EIA evaluate a potential conversion of the Oulu paper mill into packaging board production. The feasibility study is expected to be concluded by the end of 2018, and the EIA process is expected to take a minimum of six months. 

Currently, Oulu Mill has a production capacity of 360,000 metric tpy of chemical softwood pulp and 1,080.000 metric tpy of woodfree coated papers on two paper machines. The potential investment would include a new chemi-thermomechanical pulp (CTMP) plant, a brown-based cartonboard line with a capacity of 450,000 metriic tpy and a kraftliner line with a capacity of 400,000 metric tpy. 

 

 

 

The potential conversion of Oulu Mill would enable Stora Enso to further improve its position in the growing consumer board and packaging solutions businesses and take a major step in its transformation. The other option is to continue the current fine paper production. 

 

Capital expenditure for the potential conversion is estimated to be approximately EUR 700 million during years 2019–2021. This would fall within the Group's long-term capital expenditure policy of keeping capital expenditure into fixed assets approximately at the level of depreciation. The production on the potential new lines would start during 2020. Paper production at Oulu Mill will continue at least until early 2020.

 

Part of the bioeconomy, Stora Enso is a leading global provider of renewable solutions in packaging, biomaterials, wooden constructions, and paper. The company believes that everything that is made from fossil-based materials today can be made from a tree tomorrow. Stora Enso has some 26,000 employees in more than 30 countries. Its sales in 2017 were EUR 10 billion.