Finland: Gasum and Metsä Fibre join to produce biomethane for vehicles
Gasum and Metsä Fibre, part of Metsä Group, have agreed on cooperation in biomethane production at the biogas plant operating as part of Metsä Fibre’s Äänekoski bioproduct mill, in the Central Finland region. The facility will use wood-based sludge from the bioproduct mill to produce biomethane and biopellets.
Metsä Fibre will be responsible for the plant’s overall operations, whereas Gasum will be responsible for the daily remote operation and maintenance of biogas processing. Gasum will buy the biomethane produced at Metsä Fibre’s plant for use as a road transport fuel in the company’s station network.
“It’s great to work with Metsä Fibre in biogas production. Demand for renewable biogas is constantly growing and it’s currently by far the best way to reduce emissions in heavy-duty transport, for example. We want to increase biogas supplies and cooperation with Metsä Fibre will enable us to boost biogas availability in our network of gas filling stations,” said Ari Suomilammi, Director, Biogas Production, at Gasum.
“Our biogas plant further processes the sludge originating in pulp production into products of higher added value. Together with Gasum, we will be able to process biogas produced at the plant into a transport fuel. Safety and sustainability are key values for both companies, which is why I’m extremely pleased about our cooperation with Gasum,” commented Kaija Pehu-Lehtonen, Senior Vice President, Business Development, at Metsä Fibre.