Textile fibre plant in Kemi granted environmental permit, operations may begin before legal force

A textile fibre factory planned for Kemi’s Veitsiluoto industrial area has received an environmental permit, allowing operations to start before the decision becomes legally binding, Yle reports.

The Regional State Administrative Agency (Lupa- ja valvontavirasto) has set emission limits for air and water discharges, including odorous sulphur compounds. The permit also includes a fisheries obligation to reduce harm to marine fishing in the Kemi coastal area.

Infinited Fiber Kemi, the company behind the plant, plans to produce cellulose-based textile fibre from textile waste or non-waste recycled textile raw materials. Nevel, another permit holder, will treat wastewater from the textile fibre plant and other industrial operators in Veitsiluoto.

The agency has required the plant to submit a report on reducing and utilising excess heat generated by operations. Cold weather may cause cooling towers to produce steam, potentially creating localised fog in the industrial area.

Wastewater will be discharged at the same site previously used by Stora Enso’s Veitsiluoto pulp and paper mill. The fisheries obligation aims to mitigate damage to fishing activities, while wastewater and marine discharges will undergo enhanced monitoring during the initial operational phase. Additional water quality monitoring points have been added near the discharge site.

Mari Murtomaa-Hautala, senior environmental inspector at the agency, stated that granting permission to begin operations before legal force is “relatively common,” provided the site can be restored to its original condition if the permit is revoked or modified.

“Since this is an old industrial area and no changes are being made that would prevent restoration, the permit can be granted,” Murtomaa-Hautala explained.