OREANDA-NEWS. February 24, 2011. Nordkalk AS is about to invest 8.1 million euros in the reconstruction of two 100-ton lime kilns and related facilities in the Rakke burnt lime producer in Estonia, as a result of which the plant's output will more than double by 2012.

Nordkalk has signed an agreement on the supply of burnt lime with the Latvian metals producer Liepajas Metallurgs for 15 years and in 2012 the output capacity of its Rakke plant is planned to be 100,000 tons compared with 40,000 tons now. The first stage of the reconstruction will be carried out by Skanska EMV.

The manager of Nordkalk, Andres Rammul, said the plan was to renovate the old kilns that have been standing idle so far. "The size of the investment in the project is 8.1 million euros, of which 1.1 million will be spent for the acquisition of dust filters. We will also make an investment at the Liepaja railway terminal so our goods can be received there," Rammul said.

Quicklime products are used in the manufacturing processes of steel, in upgrading processes of sulphide ore, in making paper pulp, and for cleaning drinking and waste water. Nordkalk produces quicklime at five locations in Finland, two in Sweden and one in Estonia and Russia each.

In Estonia the biggest consumer of quicklime produced by Nordkalk is the Kehra pulp and paper mill.

Nordkalk is a member of the Rettig Group of Finland.