Business News

Stora Enso continues to expand in solid biofuels

Friday 01. October 2010 - Stora Enso is continuing to expand in solid biofuels by investing EUR 10 million in starting pellet production at Imavere Sawmill in Estonia. The pellet plant project will commence in the fourth quarter of 2010 and is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2011.

“This investment is part of our strategy to grow in solid biofuels with the aim
of becoming the leading integrated supplier of pellets in Northern Europe. With
this investment we are targeting industrial and residential customers through
our already established distribution and marketing channels, for example in
Sweden, which is the largest pellet market in Europe. Imavere is also very well
located to start serving the pellet market in southern Finland,” says Hannu
Kasurinen, EVP, Stora Enso Wood Products.

The annual capacity of the plant will be 100 000 tonnes of pellets. The pellet
production will be fully self-sufficient in raw material and will utilise
by-products from the sawmill and further processing operations.

“Imavere is one of our core sawmill sites, with a strong business concept and
good basis for future development. Through this investment we will further
enhance the sawmill’s long-term competitiveness,” says Hannu Kasurinen.

The annual capacity of Imavere Sawmill is 400 000 m3 of sawnwood, joinery
components and glue-laminated beams. Stora Enso Wood Products already produces
pellets at four sites in Sweden and Russia with total annual capacity 310 000
tonnes.