Papermaker to Produce Biodiesel from Wood Pulp

Feb. 3, 2012
UPM expands plant in order to deliver 100,000 tons of advanced second generation biodiesel.

Finnish papermaker UPM said on Feb. 1 that it plans to build the world's first industrial-scale plant to refine a byproduct of wood pulp into biodiesel.

The plant at UPM's site in Lappeenranta, at an investment of 150 million euros (US$198 million), will be able to produce annually approximately 100,000 tons of advanced second generation biodiesel for transport after its planned completion in 2014.

The plant will refine crude tall oil, which is a byproduct of processing wood pulp, mostly from pine trees.

"The biofuels business has excellent growth potential," said UPM chief executive Jussi Pesonen. "The quality of our end product and its environmental characteristics has gained significant interest among a wide range of customers, and the investment is profitable."

The company said it is also considering building a second biorefinery, either in Finland or France, which would wood as the raw material and different technology.

Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2012

Popular Sponsored Recommendations

Four Keys To Operational Excellence

Sept. 20, 2023
As manufacturers face supply chain disruption and shrinking margins, increasing operations performance is critical. Our smart manufacturing guidebook can help you achieve the ...

Legacy Phone Lines Are Draining Your Profits

Oct. 30, 2023
Copper wire phone line expenses that support emergency devices could be costing your company millions of dollars in wasteful overhead expenses. Rates have been skyrocketing while...

Navigating Traceability for Manufacturing Excellence

July 23, 2023
Add Value, Reduce Costs, and Eliminate Risk.

The Executive Guide to Best Practices for Ecommerce Integration

Oct. 2, 2023
Get ready to elevate your post-checkout experiences and thrive in today's unpredictable market. Learn why integration and automation are crucial to run operations more smoothly...

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of IndustryWeek, create an account today!