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BIOFORE
TEXT
PIRKKO KOIVU
PHOTOGRAPHY
UPM
UPM is investing EUR 160million in the Kymi mill. The
investment will include a new pulp drying machine, a new
debarking plant and the modernisation of the softwood
fibre line. Construction work has already begun and the
project will be completed in the autumn of 2015.
Once the new equipment has been fully implemented,
the production of the mill will grow from 530,000 to
700,000 tonnes of bleached softwood and birch pulp
per year.
Lauri Lamminmäki
, theMayor of Kouvola and
Markku
Laaksonen
, the General Manager of the Kymi mill, explain
how the investment will benefit the whole of society.
Important source of income
The Kymi mill is located in Kouvola a small city in south-
eastern Finland. Currently the UPMKymi mill and its
subcontractors directly employ around 750 people.
However, the mill’s multiple effects on employment
impact on transport, forestry, electricity and water supply,
trade and services in the area.
“Each job in industry spawns two more jobs in subcon-
tracting and services,” estimates Lauri Lamminmäki.
According to a calculationmade by the City of Kouvola,
the mill indirectly employs around 1,500 people in addition
to those employed directly.
Taxes provide welfare
The Kymi mill is an important contributor to the local
economy in the form of income taxes and increased
consumer demand. UPMemployees pay the City of Kouvola
a total of EUR 6.5 million every year in local income tax. The
mill pays Kouvola an annual figure of around EUR 5 million
in corporation and land tax. If the taxes paid by people indi-
rectly employed by the mill are taken into account, the
mill provides Kouvola with annual taxes worth EUR 19–21
million.
“These taxes are used to fund public welfare services.
Employees naturally also buy goods and services in the area
which further contributes to improving the vitality
of the city,” says Lauri Lamminmäki.
According to an estimate made by the city, purchases
made by people directly and indirectly employed by UPM
bring EUR 41–46 million to the local economy.
Hope for the future
Since 2000 a total of EUR 900million has been invested in
the UPMKymi integratedmill site and UPMhydropower
plants located in the region.
Lauri Lamminmäki is satisfied with the investments
UPMhas made.
“New investments create new jobs, but above all they
provide hope for the future and confidence in new product
> Production
• Annual pulp production capacity
+ 170,000 tonnes
• Stronger position on the global pulp market
• More flexible pulp and paper production
• More efficient logistics and staffing
• Improved energy efficiency
• One of Europe’s most modern pulp mills
Investment
supports welfare