SVETLOGORSK, 29 July (BelTA) – Svetlogorsk Pulp and Board Mill intends to make microcreped sack kraft paper, BelTA learned from the company's Deputy Director General Yuri Berdovich.
Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko backed the idea to make the new product as he visited the enterprise on 14 February 2021.
Prime Minister of Belarus Roman Golovchenko was made familiar with the project as part of his working trip to Gomel Oblast on 29 July. He examined the company's capabilities and promising manufacturing projects.
Work to prepare the construction site will begin in August. The manufacturing division will be able to make 160,000 tonnes of paper per annum. The approximate cost of the project is €126 million. Work on financing it is in progress. The Development Bank of the Republic of Belarus is expected to help implement the project.
The new products will be intended for export. European and Asian companies will be the main consumers. Yuri Berdovich explained: “Marketing studies indicate that demand for paper packaging is going to rise fast within the next few years. International practice demonstrates a confident transition from plastic packaging to paper one. Our project will follow this international ecological trend. According to the same marketing studies, as of the time our product is presented on the market, the usage of such packaging in Europe alone will increase by 500,000 tonnes. We intend to export 150,000 tonnes out of the 160,000 tonnes of microcreped sack kraft paper we will make. About 10,000 tonnes will be able to satisfy the domestic demand.”
Proprietary pulp will be used as a raw material. It will allow avoiding additional costs. Coniferous wood is used to make kraft paper. Equipment made by a Finnish company will be acquired. The enterprise intends to make the first batch of products in December 2023. The payback period will slightly exceed ten years.
The public joint-stock company (OAO) Svetlogorsk Pulp and Board Mill is one of the largest Belarusian timber industry enterprises. It is part of the Belarusian timber, woodworking, pulp and paper industry concern Bellesbumprom. The state share in the company's charter capital is 97.53%. The company employs over 2,600 people.
