Name of the Project
Saiccor mill expansion.

Location
Umkomaas, in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

Project Owner/s
Sappi.

Project Description
Sappi proposes to expand capacity and undertake various continuous improvement initiatives and upgrade projects at the Saiccor mill – collectively known as Project Vulindlela.

The project will increase the mill’s production from 780 000 t/y to 890 000 t/y of dissolving wood pulp. The projects will include a new evaporator, recovery boiler and screening and washing plant, as well as upgrades to the bleach plant and pulp machines, improved recovery circuits and additional magnesium digesters.

Potential Job Creation
The construction phase of the project is expected to peak at about 2 200 employees, 40% of whom will be sourced from the local communities, 40% from KwaZulu-Natal, 15% from South Africa and 5% as specialists from other countries.

Further, once completed, the plant will require 120 full-time employees to maintain and operate equipment.

Capital Expenditure
The project will cost R7.7-billion, which includes the capacity upgrade (R2.7-billion) and various environmental and continuous improvement projects (R5-billion).

The environmental projects constitute the majority of the total costs.

Planned Start /End Date
The project was initially scheduled for completion in the fourth quarter of 2020, but is now scheduled for completion in the first quarter of 2022.

Latest Developments
Ramp-up of the Saiccor mill expansion project began during the quarter ended December 31, 2021, and is proceeding as planned.

Commissioning of the plant began during the fourth quarter of 2021 and will be completed in the first quarter of the 2022 financial year.

Sappi expect the ramp-up to the full operating rate to take several months and, therefore, full cost savings and environmental benefits of the project will likely be realised from only the second half of 2022.

Key Contracts, Suppliers and Consultants
AF and Wood (management of Project Vulindlela); Andritz, Valmet, GL&V, ND Engineering, ABB, Karasek, Murray &Roberts, Franki and Stefanutti Stocks.

Contact Details for Project Information
Sappi corporate communications, Zelda Schwalbach, email Zelda.Schwalbach@sappi.com.