“The mechanical, electrical and automation installations will continue at full speed till the end of June. Testing and commissioning activities for completed processes will increase in April and will continue until the start-up of the new recovery boiler and turbine at the beginning of September,” says Project Director, Kimmo Kangas. The training of mill personnel continues, and all areas will be covered before the summer holidays.
The project’s site manning level reached a peak, about 750 persons, during January and February. In March, the operating level is approximately 700 and after this it will slowly decrease towards the summer.
The new modern equipment and processes will significantly increase the mill’s bio-based energy production. The new recovery boiler and turbine are expected to increase the pulp mill’s electricity production by approximately 330 gigawatt hours per year, meaning Husum’s self-sufficiency of electricity will increase from 50% to over 80%.
The reliability of the pulp and energy production will also improve when the two old recovery boilers and three turbines will be replaced by the new processes. “It is fascinating to see the implementation of modern departments and systems at a mill site which has a long industrial history,” says Kimmo Kangas.
What are the next steps?
“A new centralised control building including social facilities and offices for the pulp mill will be finished by the end of May and it will be furnished during June.
The remaining installations of the recovery boiler and turbine, as well as training, will be completed. After careful testing and finalising the commissioning tasks during August, the target is to start up the new recovery boiler in September this year,” Kangas concludes.