Metsä Fibre to Start Negotiations on Possible Layoffs at Kemi Bioproduct Mill Due to Explosion

April 3, 2024 - Metsä Fibre said that it will start negotiations on possible layoffs due to a long production stoppage caused by a gas explosion nearly two weeks ago at the evaporation plant of its Kemi bioproduct mill.

The gas explosion in the mill's evaporation plant occurred during welding work on Thursday, March 21. Three people were slightly exposed to hydrogen sulphide and returned to work after medical check-ups.

The start-up of the plant will begin after the damage has been repaired — at the end of June — according to information currently available to the company.

The damage investigation will continue and the timetable will be further specified as the investigations progress, Metsä Fibre said.

Employee negotiations will start in week 15 (Monday, April 8) and will involve the entire workforce of the Kemi bioproduct mill, around 300 people in total. It is estimated that the planned measures, if implemented, could lead to the indefinite lay-off of several employees.

The Kemi bioproduct mill, which started-up in September of 2023, has the capacity to produce 1,020,000 tonnes per year (tpy) of softwood pulp, 300,000 tpy of hardwood pulp, and 180,000tpy of unbleached pulp. In addition, the mill produces tall oil and turpentine, as well as two terawatt hours of renewable electricity per year.

Metsä Fibre, part of the Metsä Group, is a leading producer of bioproducts, biochemicals and bioenergy. The company is the world's largest producer of softwood market pulp and a globally significant manufacturer of sawn timber.

SOURCE: Metsä Fibre

Read a related article: Metsä Group Shuts Down Kemi Bioproduct Mill in Finland Due to Gas Explosion - March 26, 2024.