Valmet delivers key technology for Bracell’s new pulp mill in Brazil

Valmet Oyj’s press release on November 28, 2019 at 11:00 a.m. EET

Valmet will deliver key technology for Bracell’s project to build a new pulp production line at the mill located in Lençóis Paulista, São Paulo state, Brazil. Valmet’s delivery includes an evaporation plant and a white liquor plant, in which the lime kilns are fueled with gasified biomass.

The order was included in Valmet's orders received of the third quarter 2019. The value of the delivery will not be disclosed. However, a project of this size and scope is typically valued around EUR 200-250 million.

In May 2019, Bracell announced its plan for a substantial expansion of the São Paulo pulp mill in Lençóis Paulista (formerly Lwarcel) to increase its current production capacity of 250,000 tons per year (tpy) by an additional 1,250,000 tpy to reach 1.5 million tpy. The project is expected to be completed by the end of 2021.

“The new São Paulo unit in Lençóis Paulista will feature best-in-class technology with a flexible line designed primarily to produce dissolving pulp. This project is the largest private investment in the São Paulo state in the last 20 years and it generates employment opportunities for the entire region,” tells Carlos Pastrana, Projects Director from Bracell.

“Our technology represents new innovations and is designed for flexible production with high energy efficiency. The project will have a significant employment impact both for engineering and production in Brazil and the Nordics,” says Bertel Karlstedt, Business Line President, Pulp and Energy, Valmet.

About Valmet’s delivery

Valmet’s delivery includes an evaporation plant with a super concentrator. The plant features Valmet’s TUBEL technology for highest availability and easy washing. The evaporation is designed for high energy efficiency with energy recovery from hot weak black liquor.

The white liquor plant is an essential part in the mill’s chemical recovery process. Valmet’s delivery includes the complete white liquor plant with recausticizing and two lime kilns. In addition, Valmet delivers two biomass dryers and two biomass gasifiers. The two lime kilns are fueled with biogas decreasing the need for fossil fuels. The white liquor plant is designed for producing high quality white liquor for cooking with lower operating cost with renewable furnace fuels and low specific heat consumption.

Valmet also delivers non-condensable gas (NCG) handling system to control and minimize the odors emerging from the chemical recovery processes.

“Valmet has extensive experience in delivering fossil fuel free lime kilns, which are fueled with either wood powder or gasified biomass. Using gasified biomass is a sustainable and economical solution for large mills. Our solution works seamlessly together throughout the whole process from biomass drying, gasification and lime kiln to emission control. Our evaporation technology represents leading energy efficiency and is designed for long lifetime and high availability,” says Fernando Scucuglia, Director, Pulp & Energy, South America, Valmet.

Information about the customer Bracell

Bracell is one of the largest specialty cellulose producers in the world. Bracell has operated in Brazil for 15 years. The company has main operations in Bahia Specialty Cellulose in Camacari, Bahia and in Lençóis Paulista, São Paulo. By the time the expansion project completes in 2021, Bracell will have annual production capacity of 2.0 million tons of dissolving pulp and will employ 7,300 direct and indirect employees.

For further information, please contact:
Bertel Karlstedt, Business Line President, Pulp & Energy, Valmet, tel. +358 10 672 0000
Celso Tacla, Area President, South America, Valmet, tel. +55 41 3341 4581

VALMET
Corporate Communications

Valmet is the leading global developer and supplier of process technologies, automation and services for the pulp, paper and energy industries. We aim to become the global champion in serving our customers.

Valmet's strong technology offering includes pulp mills, tissue, board and paper production lines, as well as power plants for bioenergy production. Our advanced services and automation solutions improve the reliability and performance of our customers' processes and enhance the effective utilization of raw materials and energy.

Valmet's net sales in 2018 were approximately EUR 3.3 billion. Our more than 13,000 professionals around the world work close to our customers and are committed to moving our customers' performance forward - every day. Valmet's head office is in Espoo, Finland and its shares are listed on the Nasdaq Helsinki.

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