Mondi’s Merebank mill in Durban, South Africa has announced the installation of a new turbine in its power plant, enabling the mill to generate 60% of its electricity, significantly reducing reliance on grid-supplied power and improving operational efficiency.
The project includes the installation of a new condensing steam turbine, cooling towers, piping and control systems, using excess steam from the mill’s boiler. The new turbine project is also expected to reduce the mill’s carbon footprint.
Alongside this energy investment, the mill has completed two flood-proofing projects to mitigate risks from natural disasters. These include the installation of flood gates and the deployment of inflatable flood barriers, allowing for the rapid creation of water-catchment dams. Mondi says these measures will help protect the mill’s operations and nearby communities from extreme weather events, helping ensure business continuity.
“This project is a game-changer for the mill,” says Donovan Naidoo, operations director at Mondi Merebank. “By generating power onsite, we reduce our dependency on external electricity supply, reduce costs and take a step towards energy independence, climate resilience and long-term operational stability. Once the cooling tower upgrade is completed, the new turbine will produce more electricity than the mill consumes – a significant milestone in our journey towards self-sufficiency.”
Also this month, Mondi revealed that its six-colour digital printing range for corrugated board now includes water-based white inks for brown materials, facilitating high-contrast designs for primary and secondary packaging. The high-contrast print images are set to boost a pack’s visibility at the point of sale and strengthen a customer’s brand identity.
In other news, Metsä Group and Andritz are now operating a carbon capture pilot plant at the former’s Rauma mill, with the pilot thought to be the first in the industry to harness carbon dioxide from pulp mill flue gases. The pilot period is set to gather information about requirements for flue gas treatment and the quality of the end-product.
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