The potential 200,000 t biofuel plant is to be erected on the island Ajos. Final investment decision expected by the end of the year.
Chinese Sunshine Kaidi New Energy Group is planning to build a biofuels refinery in Finland as its first step into the European market. The renewable energy company is currently active in China and Vietnam. Its subsidiary Kaidi Finland, founded this year, is set to invest €1bn in a site in Kemi in northern Finland. The company says the planned annual production is 200,000 t of second-generation biofuels, comprising 75% biodiesel and 25% bioethanol. Kaidi plans to use energy wood as a feedstock.
A final decision on the investment will be made by the end of this year and the plant could be operational by 2019, according to Kaidi
The group chose to locate its facility on the island Ajos, near the port city of Kemi. The utility company Vapo had previously considered building a biorefinery at that site, but withdrew from the project in 2014. Kaidi said the environmental impact assessment for the project had already been approved and the environmental permit application "is well underway". The group added it had signed a letter of intent to buy 33 acres of land from the city of Kemi and was currently in talks with subcontractors and other stakeholders.
