Papeteries du Léman Demonstrates Commitment To Biomass

On Thursday 15 September, Philippe Agut, President of Papeteries du Léman and Yves Cotten, South East Director of Cofely (GDF SUEZ) laid the first stone of the future wood fuelled boiler at the Papeteries du Léman.

This new boiler, with a power output of 8.2 MW, will replace the current one and produce 50% of the steam required by the factory, the rest being provided by the household refuse burner at Thonon-les-Bains. Using this local and renewable energy will enable the plant to save 11,500 tons of CO₂ emissions per year. For Cofely, this contract represents a total turnover of  37.4 million Euro over 12 years.

Papeteries du Léman was able to gain support totalling 1.7 million Euro from ADEME in the framework of the "Biomasse Chaleur Industrie Agriculture Tertiaire" (BCIAT) call for projects. This investment is the continuation of the large scale actions taken since 2004 by PDL in favour of developing the environmentally friendly production of paper: latest-generation water treatment plant with a wet oxidation system (WOS), FSC and PEFC certification, Analysis of Paper Life Cycle, multiannual energy-saving programme, construction of a PCC production satellite, launch of the first recycled thin paper and creation of an eco-design department in-house, were the main ones. This new investment also confirms the desire of our share-holders to develop the Publier site in the long term.

Cofely, which designed the project and is building it, has contributed 4.8 million Euro towards the funding and will run the facility for the 12 years stated in the contract. Thanks to almost 30 years experience in local and renewable energies, and over 180 biomass boilers in France, Cofely also commits to providing the fuel for the plant (23,000 tons of wood per year) and will form partnerships with local wood sector players.

Cofely will also give priority to local companies for the building work. Production should start in Spring 2012.