OREANDA-NEWS. A woodworking plant producing oriented strand boards (OSB) was launched in Karelia on June, 25. This enterprise will become basic in production of affordable and modern building material of high quality for the building industry of Russia, first of all, for the branch of low-rise panel and wood-framed housing construction.

Acting Head of Karelia Oleg Gromov, Chairman of the Legislative Assembly of the Republic of Karelia Vladimir Semyonov, Deputy Head of the Federal Forestry Agency Nikolai Krotov, Mayor of Petrozavodsk Nikolai Levin, as well as heads of ministries and departments of the republic, federal agencies, Karelian parliamentarians, representatives of contracting agencies, numerous guests took part in the solemn ceremony.

The investment project of Kalevala Woodworking Plant Ltd. is one of the largest projects in board industry of Russia.

The foundation stone was laid three years ago.

Construction of the factory in such a record-breaking time became possible at active support of Karelian authorities. The Government of the republic and Kalevala Woodworking Plant Ltd. have the agreement in force on implementation of the investment project. Ministry of Industry and Trade of Russia has put it on the list of priority investment projects in the field of forest exploitation.

As Acting Head of Karelia Oleg Gromov observed at the topping-out ceremony of the plant, construction and start-up of Kalevala Woodworking Plant is an event of all-Russian scale.

Our enterprise is one of the most advanced in timber industry. We are grateful to project directors and proprietors of the enterprise that they have chosen our region to build the plant and have managed to implement this complex project. The plant may count on support of the Government of the republic and the city, including the issues concerning provision of raw material, and lease of forest land in the further, - Oleg Gromov said. - Implementation of this large project shows that it is possible to make investments in Karelia, that Karelia has prospects of using timber industry complex.

At the first stage the enterprise will produce 250-300 thousand cubic meters of oriented strand boards a year. Upon the start-up of the second production line in the years to come production will grow up to 550-600 thousand cubic meters a year.

According to Deputy Head of the Federal Forestry Agency Nikolai Krotov, creation of such enterprises will promote economic recovery of the forest industry of Russia. “Start-up of the plant is a milestone event, especially against the background of the complex situation observed in timber industry. I appreciate the investors' commitment, creditors' patience, and administrative support rendered by the Government of the republic and the city at implementation of the project,” - Nikolai Krotov said. 

The equipment at the plant was delivered by the Siempelkamp company, Germany. It enables production of OSB corresponding to the most strict European quality standards. As Chairman of the Board of Directors of Kalevala Woodworking Plant Klimenti Kasradze observed, the enterprise has got the best equipment, and the boards will be of the best European quality. However, they will be sold at the Russian price. 

Dr.Dieter Siempelkamp, owner of the Siempelkamp company, in turn, has mentioned that construction industry of Russia is already waiting for production of the plant. “We all may be proud of results of our work,” - Dieter Siempelkamp added.

The factory will produce polished, unpolished, matched and veneered OSB. The technology of continuous board pressing stipulated in the project is the most progressive, ecological and efficient. The enterprize is equipped with a multistage system for treatment of pollutant emission and systems appreciably reducing the enterprise's own power consumption. 

Total amount of investments in the project has made more than 8 billion roubles.

Kalevala Woodworking Plant is the first enterprise of timber industry of Russia built within the scope of the project financing. Construction as funded from the company's own means and borrowings. Ceska exportni banka was the creditor. Speaking at the ceremony representative of the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic Jiri Masata, has confirmed the interest of his country in development of cooperation with Karelia having mentioned that our republic is an economically interesting partner for Czechia.

The new enterprise is of great social and economic importance for the republic. Upon the start-up, contributions of the plant to all budgets will total more than 500 mln. roubles a year. There are 320 new jobs. The plant will promote transport infrastructure development and revival of logging enterprises.