Finland’s Kemira will spend roughly €30 million to expand its capacity of polymers for Chemical Enhanced Oil Recovery (CEOR) at its site in Botlek, the Netherlands. The additional output is expected to go into operation by the beginning of 2019.

“After prudent development in R&D and successful field trials, we are happy to announce this investment on the basis of an anticipated uptake in customer demand,” said Kemira's president and CEO, Jari Rosendal. The investment is part of a capital expenditure program of €160-200 million that Kemira has already announced for 2018.

In separate news, the Helsinki-based company announced earlier this month that it had completed a sodium chlorate expansion in Joutseno, Finland, nearly doubling the plant’s output. Capacity figures were not disclosed.

“This investment strengthens Kemira’s position as the leading chemical supplier for the pulp & paper industry globally. The consumption of bleaching chemicals is increasing due to the recent pulp mill expansions and the announced greenfield projects in the Nordics,” said Kim Poulsen, president of Kemira’s pulp & paper segment.

Approximately €50 million was invested in the additional production line, which Kemira said was one of its largest manufacturing site investments in Finland in recent years.