The Spanish company Saica Paper El Burgo de Ebro currently operates three packaging paper machines at its mill complex in Zaragoza, which together produce 1.3 million tonnes of 100% recycled and recyclable paper a year.

The Finland-based forest industry and energy technology company Valmet Oy has announced that it has received an order from the packaging producer Saica Group (Sociedad Anonima Industrias Celulosa Aragonsesa) for the supply of a biomass boiler and a flue gas cleaning system to the Saica Group mill at El Burgo de Ebro. Saica Group, which operates in Europe and the USA, offers sustainable solutions for the production of corrugated board and paper packaging, supporting a circular approach to waste management.

The boiler model to be supplied, the Valmet BFB, uses bubbling fluidised bed (BFB) technology. It is designed to produce steam at a capacity of more than 700,000 tonnes a year. By using biomass as fuel, the BFB boiler will significantly reduce fossil fuel consumption and carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions, in line with Saica's commitment to sustainable development and the principles of the circular economy.

This project forms part of the Saica Group decarbonisation plan, and is fully consistent with the values Saica has declared: “We care, we value, we challenge”.

It has received a PERTE (Strategic Project for Economic Recovery and Transformation) grant, awarded to the company by Spain's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Enterprise. “On this project we are relying on Valmet, because the company has proven technology in the field of biomass BFB boilers, and also thanks to our good cooperation and the results achieved in earlier projects. We hope that this new partnership will ensure the success of this challenging project,” said Juan Antonio Meler, Director of Industrial Projects at Saica Group.

The total value of the Valmet delivery and services has not been disclosed. It covers the Valmet BFB boiler together with auxiliary equipment and a dedicated boiler building, including installation, commissioning and start-up. In addition, Valmet will supply a flue gas cleaning system with a bag filter. Handover of the boiler plant to Saica Group is scheduled for the end of 2026.

“We are delighted to support Saica Group's largest decarbonisation project. This order underlines the importance of our modern boiler technology in helping a range of industries move to more sustainable energy solutions. It is testament to Valmet's experience and commitment to delivering high-quality, innovative solutions that meet our customers' needs,” emphasised Lauri Pehu-Lehtonen, Vice President for Energy and the Circular Economy at Valmet.