SWEDEN -- On Tuesday, the ground was officially broken for the new evaporator and brown stock washing system at Södra's pulp mill at Mörrum, Sweden. The investment decision was made in February 2016 and will have several positive effects.

"A ground-breaking ceremony was held today for the new evaporator and brown stock washing system. This investment will enable us to grow with our customers by increasing the production rate for paper and dissolving pulp. The energy balance at the facility will also be improved, which means we can increase our deliveries of district heating and biofuels," said Stefan Sandberg, Mill Manager.

Södra's investment is the second stage of a long-term focus on the pulp mill at Mörrum and brings Södra's total investment in the facility to SEK 1.7 billion.

In addition to investment in a new evaporation plant, the brown stock washing system on the dissolving pulp line will be modernised. The evaporator will raise the production capacity, enabling increased supplies of energy products such as electricity, district heating and biofuels.

This investment will mean that Södra can offer its customers higher volumes of both paper pulp and dissolving pulp, and the expansion will increase the total production capacity from 425,000 to 470,000 tonnes.

The construction project is scheduled for completion by November 2017.