Kokkola, Finland-Kemira Oyj said April 30 that it is selling its sulfuric acid plant in Kokkola, Finland, to Boliden Kokkola Oy. The business and a staff of about 20 individuals will be transferred to Boliden May 1, 2010. Kemira will continue chemical terminal operations in Kokkola, including services to Boliden. Kemira said the transaction does not have any significant impact on either company’s financial figures, and the parties have agreed not to disclose the transaction price. In accordance with its strategy, Kemira focuses on products and solutions for water-intensive industries, such as pulp and paper, oil and mining, municipal, and other industrial water treatment. “Sulfuric acid continues to be an important raw material for us in Finland,” says Petri Helsky, head of Kemira’s paper segment. Boliden will have the entire sulfur refining chain in Kokkola. Sulphur dioxide is a by-product in the production of zinc, and it is refined into sulfuric acid for several industrial purposes. So far, Boliden has sold sulfur dioxide gas to Kemira, and Kemira has refined it to sulfuric acid. The production capacity of the Kokkola sulfuric acid plant is approximately 300,000 mt/y.
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