SPAIN (News release) -- The Saica Group has decided to accept Euro 32.7 million grant given to the company by the Ministry of Industry and Tourism for its PERTE (Strategic Project for Economic Recovery and Transformation), which aims to decarbonise the recycled paper process at its plant in El Burgo de Ebro, Zaragoza, Spain. The project was declared of Regional Interest by the Government of Aragon and the group now trusts that the speeding up of the corresponding administrative permits will not compromise the very tight deadlines established for the assumption of the aid.
The PERTE would involve a total investment of Euro 101.5 million and the creation of 440 direct and indirect jobs. The investment includes the development of a comprehensive decarbonisation project, with 6 directly related primary projects, at the Saica Group's plant in El Burgo. Three paper manufacturing machines operate there, producing 1.3 million tonnes per year of 100% recycled and recyclable paper for packaging.
The objective of PERTE, which was presented in January 2024, is to drive decarbonisation by assisting companies in the comprehensive transformation of their energy strategy from fossil to renewable sources.
With all the actions planned at Burgo de Ebro, as a result of this investment, will reduce fossil CO2 emissions in the complex by 53%, through improved efficiency and reduced consumption of natural gas.
The main actions reflected in the project are the start-up of a biomass energy generation plant, with a steam production of more than 700,000 tonnes per year; the implementation of a biomass preparation plant, which would treat approximately 160,000 tonnes per year; the assembly of a back-pressure steam turbine to be installed in the existing energy recovery plant; and the start-up of a biogas boiler, with the capacity to recover the biogas generated in the factory's water treatment and purification plant.
The Saica Group offers sustainable paper solutions for the manufacture of corrugated board and packaging, promoting circularity in waste management.
