Porin Prosessivoima's power plant inaugurated by Mauri Pekkarinen, Minister of Economic Affairs

Porin Prosessivoima's bioenergy plant was inaugurated by Mauri Pekkarinen, Minister of Economic Affairs, on 3 March 2009. Located in Sachtleben Pigments Oy's industrial area, the new plant will increase the use of domestic sources of energy in the Pori region. It replaces aged capacity and reduces the use of oil in heat and power production. The investment totals EUR 140 million.

In his speech Timo Rajala, President and CEO of Pohjolan Voima, said:

-       The Pori project is special for us because it's the first ever power plant project we've implemented with the chemical industry. This is precisely in line with our objectives. Pohjolan Voima has excellent capacity to provide energy solutions not only to the forest industry and municipalities but also other industries such as metal and chemical.

-       The new power plant will generate electricity and steam for Sachtleben Pigments more efficiently and economically. This will make pigment production totally self-sufficient in energy, while the old power plant will remain as a reserve unit. The new plant also puts the development of pigment production and the design of new processes on a sound basis in terms of energy economy. This improves the unit's standing in tough international competition, said Harri Kerminen, CEO of Kemira Group, in his speech.

Kari Hannus, Deputy Mayor of the City of Pori, said in his speech:

-       The new power plant is also an environmental project, with peat, wood and recovered fuels replacing coal and oil. Initially a quarter of the fuels used by the plant will be renewable, but the rate can and should go up once operations have become established. Unfortunately there have been problems with access to renewable fuels, and the plant could burn more wood and recovered fuels if available.

The new power plant is fuelled by wood, peat, coal and recovered fuels. It will supply 65 MW of electricity, 140 MW of steam and 70 MW of district heat for industry and the City of Pori. As well as the power plant, the project also included the construction of a district heat transmission pipeline to the centre of Pori and a steam transmission pipeline to the Pihlava industrial area.

The bioenergy plant was constructed as a joint project between Pohjolan Voima, Kemira and the City of Pori. It helps cut down the use of oil in industry and district heat production and replaces local energy company Pori Energia Oy's outdated capacity in the Pihlava and Aittaluoto industrial areas.