5 July 2021. Norske Skog has made an investment decision to convert one machine at the Golbey (France) industrial site from standard newsprint to recycled containerboard. This is the second major step for Norske Skog to establish a leading independent recycled containerboard supplier in Europe.
The conversion at Golbey will add a further 550 000 tonnes of cost-competitive and low-emission containerboard capacity, bringing Norske Skog’s total capacity to 760 000 tonnes. The containerboard production will be 100% based on recycled fibre and will use green energy generated from a new biomass plant being constructed at the Golbey production site.
As announced in June 2020, Norske Skog will introduce 760 000 tonnes of competitive recycled containerboard capacity in Europe by investing approximately EUR 350 million to convert Golbey PM1 and Bruck PM3 (Austria).
Recycled containerboard production at Golbey PM1 will start in the fourth quarter of 2023, about one year after the start-up of the Bruck PM3, allowing for stepwise commercial introduction of the containerboard volumes.
Full production of 550 000 tonnes of lightweight testliner and fluting is expected in the second half of 2026, allowing for a normal start-up curve.
In parallel, Green Valley Energie (GVE), a joint venture of Pearl Infrastructure Capital, Veolia Industries Global Solutions and Norske Skog Golbey, will construct a green energy biomass facility adjacent to the Golbey industrial site. This facility will provide cost-efficient and sustainable steam to be used for both containerboard and newsprint production.
The second machine at Golbey, with capacity of 330 000 tonnes of standard and improved newsprint, will continue production unaffected by the containerboard project.