Metsä Fibre and Econia have made agreements on consulting services related to contractor liability matters and the prevention of the grey economy in the Kemi bioproduct mill project and the Rauma sawmill project in Finland. The agreement took effect immediately and in full in the Rauma sawmill project, while the preliminary agreement concerning the Kemi bioproduct mill project is conditional on the investment decision.
Metsä Fibre requires compliance with the law and collective agreements at the construction sites throughout the subcontracting chain, and any shortcomings are addressed immediately. The approach to the prevention of the grey economy is proactive. The cooperation with Econia includes training and the distribution of information on complying with correct operating methods, contractor liability and the prevention of the grey economy.
“As a partner, Econia can guarantee high-quality monitoring of the grey economy in our large-scale industrial projects. At this point, we’re creating the conditions for the sites to operate in the manner required by Metsä Fibre,” says Sanna Huhtilainen, SVP, Human Resources, Metsä Fibre.
Econia’s comprehensive operating model aims for the seamless management of subcontracting chains and proactive risk management in cooperation with Metsä Fibre.
“A grey economy prevention programme as extensive as this is yet to be in use at a single construction site. We’re very proud to be able to put our expertise in the use of the world’s most modern sawmill and the largest forest industry investment ever in Finland,” says Heimo Alatalo, Econia’s Director, International & HR Services.
The Rauma sawmill project of Metsä Fibre, part of Metsä Group, is progressing according to plan. Contracts on the sawmill’s main equipment, earthworks and the implementation of the structural engineering work were made during the spring, and the sawmill’s earthworks got under way in May. The construction of the sawmill’s foundation began in early August, and the construction phase will be completed by the end of September next year 2021. The equipment installations will begin in phases in early 2021, and production is set to begin in the third quarter of 2022. The degree of Finnish origin in the construction phase is high – more than 70 per cent – and it will employ 1,500 individuals. The value of the investment is approximately EUR 200 million. The new sawmill will produce around 750,000 cubic metres of pine sawn timber per year and employ around 100 people directly and around 500 people across its direct value chain. The new sawmill will be a forerunner in technology and efficiency.
The Kemi bioproduct mill project is likewise progressing on schedule. The project engineering started at the beginning of August 2020 and more than 400 people are now working in the organisation. Prerequisites for the EUR 1,5 billion investment decision are estimated to be fulfilled in the autumn of 2020 after the environmental permit process is completed, among other aspects to be considered. In addition to the environmental permit process, the Kemi bioproduct mill project is currently being advanced through financing negotiations and the development of the logistics needed for the new mill. During the construction phase, the bioproduct mill’s employment impact is estimated to be nearly 10,000 person-years, of which more than half would be carried out in Kemi. The number of employees working in the mill area over the entire construction phase is estimated to rise to around 15,000. The project’s degree of Finnish origin is expected to be high – in the Äänekoski bioproduct mill project, it was 70 per cent.
The Kemi bioproduct mill would not use any fossil fuels at all and it would produce some 1.5 million tonnes of softwood and hardwood pulp a year, as well as many other bioproducts. Through its direct value chain, the bioproduct mill will employ around 2,500 people in Finland, which is 1,500 people more than with the current Kemi pulp mill.
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