Finland-headed energy and forest industry technology major Valmet Oyj has announced that it has been by selected by pulp and paper industry major Sappi Southern Africa to deliver a full Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) package for the replacement of recovery boiler components at the Saiccor Mill in South Africa.
Sappi is a global provider of everyday materials made from woodfibre-based renewable resources. In South Africa, Sappi operates four mills, of which the Saiccor mill is situated south of the Port of Durban.
With a capacity of 890,000 tonnes of dissolving wood pulp, which is mostly for manufacturers of viscose staple fibre, used in clothing and textiles.
Improve operational performance
Valmet’s delivery, the value of which has not been disclosed, includes the replacement of the recovery boiler rear wall and economizer in the existing MgO1 boiler, which utilizes magnesium closed-loop recovery technology.
The scope of supply covers project management, engineering, manufacturing, materials, installation planning, and erection of the recovery boiler pressure parts.
This upgrade of critical boiler parts will improve operational safety, reduce the risk of unplanned downtime, and improve the overall reliability of the mill.
The project will address key operational challenges by restoring the structural integrity and thermal performance of critical boiler components. This upgrade is an important step in maintaining reliable and safe operations at the Saiccor Mill. Valmet’s in-depth knowledge of our site and proven experience in complex shutdown projects support the successful execution of this work, said Jan Burger, Engineering Manager, at Sappi Saiccor.
The delivery and installation work will take place during the major outage in February 2027.
Valmet’s lifecycle approach supports customers throughout the entire lifetime of their assets — from early project phases to operation, maintenance, upgrades, and long-term performance improvement. Our long-standing relationship with Sappi and extensive experience in executing shutdown projects at the Saiccor Mill give us strong site-specific knowledge that enables accurate planning and efficient execution during critical outages. Combined with skilled teams and specialized tools, this ensures safe and reliable pressure part replacement and further demonstrates Valmet’s role as a trusted partner for recovery boiler and energy solutions in the pulp and paper industry, said Amit Roy, Senior Sales Manager, Pulp, Energy and Circularity Services at Valmet.
