The plant should be completed by autumn 2005 and will employ 65 staff.

It will mainly produce pulp for the firms papermaking plants outside Finland, while M-reals Joutseno BCTMP plant will service its Finnish mills.

The Kaskinen plant will have a capacity of 300,000 tonnes a year and will use 800,000m3 of softwood and hardwood annually.

M-reals Zanders mills in Germany Gohrsmhle mill in Bergisch Gladbach and Reflex mill in Dren have both been certified as having fully integrated management and environmental management systems.