Metsä Fibre's Kemi bioproduct mill is a project of unprecedented scale.The 1.85 billion investment, when completed, will employ 2,500 people across its entire direct value chain in Finland and produce 1.5 million tonnes of softwood and birch pulp per year. The annual revenue impact of the mill on Finland, as well as its impact on the value of Finnish exports, will be half a billion euros.
The plant, which operates entirely without fossil fuels, has an electricity self-sufficiency rate of 250%, and surplus electricity is supplied to the national grid. On an annual basis, it will produce 2.5% of Finland's total electricity production from renewable sources.
A project that looks exactly like the PAP
PAP founder Rauno Pukarinen says that the Kemi bioproduct plant project has very high standards. So it is exactly the kind of project where PAP will be able to show its best skills.
"We have extensive experience in delivering large-scale, demanding fire safety projects. Such as the Sipoo Logistics Centre and the recently completed Nokia Arena in Tampere. In the Kemi bioproduct plant project, we particularly benefited from the experience we gained from the fire safety implementation of the Äänekoski bioproduct plant. We are the only operator in Finland to have previously carried out such a full-scale fire safety project in a wood processing plant."
The Kemi bioproducts plant is a particularly suitable project for PAP, also because it has been able to benefit from the company's high level of design expertise. "This project is very much a clean slate. The contractor's design only specified the implementation method for the fire safety system. Our task was to use this as a basis for designing a fire safety solution for the site that would be the most functional and fixed solution overall, and that would also communicate with the site's building automation system in an addressable manner. This type of interface integration is still new in the implementation of fire safety systems in Finland."
From one step to the next with confidence
Project Manager Jami Ojala is the main pilot for the Kemi bioproduct plant project in the PAP team. He is responsible for ensuring that the work on the PAP is progressing on schedule and according to plan. "This is a very large project in terms of delivery. We are responsible for the design and implementation of the fire detection system for the entire factory area of about 70 hectares."
PAP's work at the Kemi bioproduct plant covers everything from system design to field installation, testing and commissioning. "A large number of different types of fire detectors, fire buttons, fire sirens, sampling piping and control panels are installed on the factory site. In addition, we will implement various special systems at the site and install eight kilometres of fire fibre to control the sprinklers that protect the chipping and bark conveyor lines.
For a project of this size, there are a number of things to consider. "One of the most important things is the successful scheduling of the overall project. We are one of the few companies on site that works across the entire factory in all buildings. Our team has to be on site at each location at the time that is most optimal for the overall project."
The work at the Kemi bioproducts plant has been going smoothly, thanks to the PAP team of professionals. "We are implementing the project with a team of ten people, with additional reinforcements if necessary. In addition to myself, we have designers, installers, a product manager for the programming and commissioning side and, if necessary, our company management. With this configuration, we will deliver a safe and high-quality solution on time and on target."
Installation work on the factory site is currently in full swing and the PAP section will be completed by summer 2023.
Close teamwork with the client
On the Metsä Fibre side, Risto Remonen is the installation supervisor of the fire alarm system. According to him, cooperation with PAP has been smooth. "We keep in close contact and in our weekly site meetings we discuss the progress of PAP's work, the overall project progress, schedules and safety issues, for example. We try to find solutions to any issues that arise straight away. If we need more information to support the project, for example on process conditions, we ask the experts in the area for help. Such a model is indispensable on a site where there are constantly many different things happening and work has to proceed strictly according to schedule."
Fire safety is very important in a bioproduct plant, which is why a partner is also very important. "This project involves the construction of a large process industry facility, including technical, office and kitchen areas, process rooms and conveyors both above and below ground. During normal operation, these areas can be exposed to fumes, high temperatures and dust, among other things. Erroneous fire detection due to incorrect engineering is not desirable and therefore we ensure that the system is safe and sound in use during the design, installation, testing and commissioning phases. PAP was selected as the main contractor for the system on the basis of the company's solid professionalism and impressive experience."
When completed, the Kemi bioproduct plant will be a great addition to PAP's portfolio. "The successful completion of this project will add to PAP's list of references to make it even more impressive. Quite a number of plants in different sectors they can now promise to be able to handle."
Aiming for the future
According to PAP's Rauno Pukarinen, the Kemi bioproduct plant is an interesting project because the new experience gained during the project will also be useful in the future.
"The uniqueness of this project allows us to implement completely new solutions, so in a way it also allows us to do our own product development. With the completion of this project, our expertise in the design and implementation of massive fire safety solutions will be even more convincing and versatile. This will further strengthen our position as Finland's leading provider of fire safety solutions."