Feasibility study underway
LEONARD NEILL
A PULP mill at Richards Bay with a capacity of 300 000 tons is on the planning boards. A joint South African-Swedish team is currently undertaking a feasibility study.
NCT Forestry Co-Operative (NCT), the Pietermaritzburg-based marketing arm of the country’s private and independent timber growers organisation, has signed an agreement to pursue this undertaking with Sodra Cell, a Swedish world leader in the production of market pulp.
Research is based on the viability of constructing the plant to handle eucalyptus-based BCTMP (Bleached, Chemical, Terminal, Mechanical Pulp).
“The combination of competitive wood and energy costs along with the fact that we believe BCTMP based on eucalyptus is a quality for the future, has encouraged us to take this step,” says Leif Broden, president of Sodra Cell.
The two companies will take a final decision by December 2005 on development procedures, enabling a likely inauguration of the new plant during 2007.
