Austria's Pulp Mill Holding continues operations in Russia, seeks alternatives to imported chemicals

ST. PETERSBURG. March 14 (Interfax) - Arkhangelsk Pulp and Paper Mill , a division of Austria-based Pulp Mill Holding, and its subsidiaries are continuing production in Russia, the mill's press service said.

However, the company said it is already facing shortages of imported chemicals. For example, its main supplier of ingredients for bleaching reagents has suspended operations in Russia. In order to minimize risks, the mill has worked out an alternative way to produce chlorine dioxide that eliminates sulphur dioxide from the process.

"Experiments were done in laboratory conditions with the Norther (Arctic) Federal University that confirmed the correctness of the mill's solution. The concept for production of the substitute chemical is now being implemented by the mill," the company said.

The mill is also holding negotiations on supplies of sodium chlorate, hydrogen peroxide and other materials and resources from China, Turkey, Southeast Asia and India.

In order to avoid downtime, the mill is also changing its line of products and starting to sell unbleached hard and soft wood pulp, as well as unbleached machine-glazed paper in the whole range of densities from paper mill No. 6. The new products will make it possible to expand the mill's portfolio of orders and increase the company's stability under sanctions, the press service said.

Pulp Mill Holding manages mills in Russia and Ukraine that produce pulp, paper, cardboard, packaging and hygiene products. Its anchor business is the Arkhangelsk Pulp and Paper Mill. The group also includes Arkhbum (corrugated cardboard and corrugated packaging), Arkhbum Upak (paper bags), Arkhbum Tissue Group (base stock and tissue paper), Kyiv Cardboard and Paper Mill (packaging coardboard) and logistics company Arkhbum Ltd.