Partnerships

Södra and Statkraft initiate biofuel collaboration

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Statkraft and Södra have signed a letter of intent to create a company with the aim of establishing production of biofuel based on forest raw material in the future. The agreement also means that Statkraft will acquire the company Södra Cell Tofte AS, which includes the industrial site of the former Tofte pulp plant in Hurum, Norway.

Biofuel plays an important part in the drive to achieve national and international targets for reducing climate emissions from the transportation sector. It is predicted that authorities will provide incentives to stimulate an increased mix of sustainable biofuel in oil-based fuels.

«Statkraft views biofuel as an interesting area in renewable energy. I believe that the collaboration with Södra will be a solid basis for development of the project,» said Statkraft CEO, Christian Rynning-Tønnesen.

«Södra is monitoring with great interest the technology developments and the business opportunities presented by the use of forest raw materials for industrial production of climate-neutral fuels. We have also enjoyed good collaboration with Statkraft in the past and look forward to joining the two companies’ expertise and experience in this project,» commented Södra’s CEO Lars Idermark.

Infrastructure already in place

The letter of intent means that Statkraft will take over all of the shares in Södra Cell Tofte AS and that Södra and Statkraft will form a new biofuel company in which Södra will own a 49 per cent share and Statkraft a 51 per cent share.

The Tofte industrial site is favourably situated for a future venture into the area of biofuel. The location has an established infrastructure that can handle large volumes of wood, and it is located centrally in Eastern Norway, with a good deep-water port.

«Statkraft is Europe’s largest producer of renewable energy and the leading power company in Norway. The group owns, produces and develops hydroelectric power, wind power, gas power and district heating. Statkraft is a major player in the European energy trading market and has 3,600 employees in more than 20 countries.

«Södra is a group with extensive forestry operations and a leading producer of paper pulp, sawn timber and bioenergy. The Group is owned by 50,000 forest owners in southern Sweden, has 3,500 employees and revenue of SEK 17 billion.