Weekly

Norske Skog Golbey’s RCCM production to start up in Q1 2025

Frauke Schmidt, 6 September 2024

Recycled containerboard production at Norske Skog's Golbey plant in France is now expected to start in the first quarter of 2025.

Commissioning of the roll warehouse, the containerboard winder, and the effluent station is underway, Norske Skog reported. In addition, pre-commissioning (I/O check) of the OCC drum pulper at PM 1 has started, with the full ramp up expected to begin in early October.

However, work relating to the piping and electrical cabling has taken longer than planned, said Norske Skog.

Originally, the ramping-up of production was scheduled to start in the Q4 2023, but this was postponed to the second quarter of 2024 and then to the second half of 2024 due to higher costs and equipment delivery delays.

As a result of the revised schedule and the additional work required, the net investment is now €320m, up from the originally planned sum of €265m.

In 2020, Norske Skog announced plans to convert the graphic paper mills in Golbey, France and Bruck, Austria, to recycled containerboard production. Conversion of the PM 1 in Golbey started in Q4 2022. When completed, the machine will have a capacity of 550,000 tpy of containerboard. Production at the Bruck mill started in Q1 2023.

Study on BCTMP production in Saugbrugs on track

The main study for BCTMP production at Norske Skog Saugbrugs, Norway, has started with support from engineering consultants and discussions with suppliers. The final investment decision is still expected in the first half of 2025.

"Completion of the containerboard project at Golbey remains a top priority across the Norske Skog group and for me personally. We will do our utmost to complete the project within the updated time frame and budget, and look forward to start customer deliveries. This project has provided us with important lessons that will be implemented in the BCTMP project at Saugbrugs," says Norske Skog CEO Geir Drangsland.

Source: Euwid