In Sweden, Moelven Valåsen, part of Norway-headed solid wood processing major Moelven Industrier ASA, has held the official inauguration of a new wood pellet plant in Karlskoga.
Held on November 20, 2024, the inauguration was attended by 60 or so guests who braved inclement weather warnings.
“The most beautiful factory in Scandinavia” was one of many accolades from the guests which included Moelven personnel, representatives from technology suppliers and contractors, local dignitaries, and media.
Part of Moelven’s investment puzzle
With 2024 marking Moelvens Industrier’s 125th anniversary, Group CEO Morten Kristiansen officiated at the event.
Morten Kristiansen outlined key milestones in Moelven’s 125 years of wood processing heritage before moving on to more recent history such as the acquisition of the Valåsen sawmill, and subsequent investments including the Group’s second pellet plant – its first in Sweden.
This plant plays an important role in our industrial lift in the value chain, and will increase our international competitiveness and contribute to our sustainability work, said Morten Kristiansen.
The first pellets already produced
Also on stage was Lars Storslett who, in addition to his role as Head of Moelven Wood division, is also CEO of Moelven Pellets. Lars spoke on the specific pellet plant project in Valåsen and its partners.
In September 2024, Moelven Pellets started commissioning the new pellet plant. Built by Estonia’s Hekotek, which also built Moelven’s first pellet plant at its Soknabruket sawmill in Norway, the sawdust and planer shavings from the sawmill are dried using a Mühlböck belt dryer, and pressed in one of three CPM pellet presses.
The project has gone incredibly well and ran almost faster than planned and it feels great to be standing here with you all. There are many of you in here who meant a lot to this project’s progress and successful project implementation, remarked Gunilla Pettersson, Site Manager for Moelven Pellets in her address.
Sweden’s first fully electric trucks for pellets
Production from the 80,000 tonnes per annum nameplate capacity plant is trucked from Moelven Valåsen to the nearby inland Port of Kristinehamn where the pellets are shipped.
As part of the logistics chain, the regional haulier group LBC Logistik is tasked with transporting the pellets from the pellet plant to the Port of Kristinehamn using electric trucks.
Owned by C.Strid’s Transport AB and NE Transport AB respectively, the trucks are fully electric and charged with LBC’s own solar PV installation ensuring that transportation is sustainable and fossil-free.
Important for the local community
Representing the local community Ann-Catrin Qrtqvist, Vice Chair of the Karlskoga municipal board highlighted the region’s wood industry heritage, the good cooperation between the company and the municipality, and how pellets, made from processing residues are part of a sustainable future.
When the world is constantly striving for sustainable solutions that reduce the burden on our planet, Karlskoga is now with Moelven at the forefront with this innovative facility, said Ann-Catrin Qrtqvist, Vice Chair of Karlskoga municipal board.
The opening ceremony concluded with a tour of what currently might be “the most beautiful pellet plant in Scandinavia.” That said, beauty is in the eye of the beholder – all stuff for a feature in a coming issue.
