Ilim Group inaugurated world’s largest softwood pulp line

On June 19, Ilim Group has officially inaugurated its new pulp mill in Bratsk (Irkutsk region), the largest investment project completed in the Russian pulp and paper industry over the last 30 years and the world’s largest softwood pulp line.

Total investments in the Big Bratsk project exceeded $800 million. Annual capacity of the new line after ramp-up will reach 720,000 tonnes of bleached softwood market pulp, with the total annual pulp and paper products output of the Bratsk mill exceeding 1 million tonnes per year.

This project will make the Bratsk mill more efficient and more environmentally friendly. In addition to the construction of a new line, the project involved the upgrade of the infrastructure, including construction of a new recovery boiler, new woodyard, new chemicals preparation plant, and several other facilities.

The ceremony was attended by Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev. “The Big Bratsk project is a good example of well-coordinated efforts of business community and regional and federal authorities,” Medvedev noted.

According to Bratsk mill director Vladimir Sokolovsky, rated capacity will be reached within three to six months. Presently, all equipment is up and running, with some machines already ramping up capacity.