OREANDA-NEWS. June 15, 2009. AS Ecometal will launch a sodium sulfate production line that cost 40 million kroons (EUR 2.6 mln) at its lead battery recycling plant in Sillamae, northeastern Estonia.

The company was helped in funding the environmental investment by Norway through the Norwegian Financial Mechanism, Ecometal said.

The opening ceremony will be attended by Environment Minister Jaanus Tamkivi, representatives of the Norwegian embassy in Estonia, governor of the East-Viru County Riho Breivel, and Sillamae Mayor Ain Kiviorg.

Ecometal's lead battery recycling plant in Sillamae is the only one of its kind in the Baltic states, the company said. It produces annually 12,000 tons of lead and lead alloys, 1,000 tons of polypropylene, and from now on a projected 2,000 tons of sodium sulfate.

The company that has a staff of 53 posted revenues of 272 million kroons for 2008 of which 99 percent came from export. Ecometal was declared Estonia's top exporter by the Enterprise Estonia foundation in 2008.