The Saica Group has decided to accept the 32.7 million euro grant given to the company by the Ministry of Industry and Tourism for its PERTE (Strategic Project for Economic Recovery and Transformation), which aims to decarbonise the recycled paper process at its plant in El Burgo de Ebro (Zaragoza). The project was declared of Regional Interest by the Government of Aragon and the group now trusts that the speeding up of the corresponding administrative permits will not compromise the very tight deadlines established for the assumption of the aid.
The PERTE would involve a total investment of 101.5 million euros and the creation of 440 direct and indirect jobs (40 direct, 200 indirect and 200 linked to the design, construction and execution of the infrastructures). The investment includes the development of a comprehensive decarbonisation project, with 6 directly related primary projects, at the Saica Group’s plant in El Burgo. Three paper manufacturing machines operate there, producing 1.3 million tonnes per year of 100% recycled and recyclable paper for packaging.
The objective of PERTE, which was presented in January 2024, is to drive decarbonisation by assisting companies in the comprehensive transformation of their energy strategy from fossil to renewable sources.
With all the actions planned at Burgo de Ebro, as a result of this investment, will reduce fossil CO2 emissions in the complex by 53%, through improved efficiency and reduced consumption of natural gas.
The main actions reflected in the project are the start-up of a biomass energy generation plant, with a steam production of more than 700,000 tonnes per year; the implementation of a biomass preparation plant, which would treat approximately 160,000 tonnes per year; the assembly of a back-pressure steam turbine to be installed in the existing energy recovery plant; and the start-up of a biogas boiler, with the capacity to recover the biogas generated in the factory’s water treatment and purification plant.
“We are very grateful for the institutional support received for a strategic and exciting project for us, which will enable us to significantly reduce emissions at our El Burgo de Ebro plant”, said the president and CEO of the Saica Group, Susana Alejandro, who also stressed “the importance of the administrative procedures involved in these energy solutions not jeopardising the tight deadlines set by the ministry in order to receive the subsidy”.
Photo: Saica
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