NIB finances Kemira’s R&D and chlorate expansion in Joutseno, Finland

Photo: Kemira Oyj

NIB and the global chemicals company Kemira Oyj have signed a loan agreement totalling EUR 90 million to finance the completed expansion of the company’s sodium chlorate production capacity in Joutseno in 2016-2017 and R&D investments during 2016–2019.

The seven-year loan has financed the construction of a new cell room for sodium chlorate production at Kemira’s facility in Joutseno, in south-eastern Finland.

The facilities are designed and constructed in line with best available techniques, and are expected to contribute to the company’s overall operational efficiency.

“The increased production capacity for sodium chlorate is a response to the growing demand from the Nordic forestry industry and will solidify Kemira’s position in the market. The investment supports the ongoing expansion of pulp production in Finland”, says Henrik Normann, NIB President & CEO.

Kemira’s R&D programme during 2016–2019 focuses on developing more sustainable solutions for improving the water, energy and raw material efficiency of customers in various sectors, including pulp and paper, as well as that of other industrial applications.

The company is part of the forest and heavy industry cluster in the Nordic–Baltic countries, and has collaboration programmes with other companies and universities and research centres, including Aalto University, the Technical Research Centre of Finland and the University of Copenhagen.

Kemira Oyj is a leading chemicals company serving customers in water-intensive industries such as pulp and paper, oil and gas and water treatment. Kemira is listed on the Nasdaq Helsinki and employs around 4,700 people globally.

NIB is an international financial institution owned by eight member countries: Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway and Sweden. The Bank finances private and public projects in and outside the member countries. NIB has the highest possible credit rating, AAA/Aaa, with the leading rating agencies Standard & Poor’s and Moody’s.

For further information, please contact

Mr Kim Krokfors, Senior Manager, Origination, at +358 10 618 0517,

Ms Niina Rantti, Communications Officer, at +358 10 618 0265,