Ilim to boost pulp production capacity in Ust-Ilimsk by 25%
IRKUTSK. June 25. (Interfax) - Russian pulp and paper producer OJSC Ilim Group plans to boost the output of its main product - kraft pulp - by 25% to 1 million tonnes a year in the framework of pulp production modernization at its Ust-Ilimsk branch, the director of Ilim's Irkutsk representative office Alexander Lutsenko told journalists on Monday.
"Today, the issues of modernizing production in the city of Ust-Ilimsk are being worked out. We will start modernizing and expanding its volumes in the near future. It's not a secret that these plans involve bringing the plant up to output of 1 million tonnes a year," he said.
He did not specify the amount of investments in the project or the timeframes for implementing it, noting that "these numbers will be publicized with the completion of the Big Bratsk project."
Ilim will finish up the investment project in Bratsk with the launch of the pulp production plant's design capacity by 2015.
"This year, the project will partially begin its launch. The new production facility envisages pulping 720,000 tonnes a year. The company's plans are as such: to finish the announced project in Bratsk by the end of 2014 and to bring it to its design capacity," Lutsenko said.
The $700-million Big Bratsk project calls for modernizing the Bratsk Pulp and Paper Mill. Ilim is creating a new line to produce 720,000 tonnes of softwood pulp a year in Bratsk. Overall annual production will top 1 million tonnes of pulp a year. The project involves installing a new line to boil, wash and bleach pulp; a drying unit; a recovery boiler and bark boiler; the construction of a timber yard; and the implementation of other infrastructure measures.
Ilim's production assets are structured based on products and geography and include the Ilim West, Ilim East and Ilim Corrugated Box business units.
The Ilim East unit includes Ilim's assets located in the Irkutsk region and Krasnoyarsk territory - its branches in the cities of Bratsk and Ust-Ilimsk, its timber supply enterprises and regional services.