Kemijarvi puts pressure on Stora Enso
The town of Kemijarvi in northern Finland intends to force pulp major Stora Enso to sell its local pulp plant to the municipality.
Stora Enso, one of the major pulp producers in Europe, has decided to close the plant as part of its cut spending plan. The company refuses however to let competing companies take over the plant.
The local council of Kemijärvi now itself intends to take over the plant and has consulted national Finnish authorities over a plan on the forced sale of the industrial facilities.
According to newspaper Helsingin Sanomat, the town of Kemijärvi has asked the environment ministry for permission from for forced purchase of the land, buildings and machinery of the mill with the argument that the site is essential to secure jobs for the people of Kemijärvi.
-The Act on the Redemption of Immoveable Property and Special Rights has a section that makes compulsory purchase of the mill possible, Heikki Nivala, the chairman of the municipal government told the paper.
The Finnish government meanwhile remains sceptical to the plans of the Kemijärvi council. According Newsroom Finland, Finland’s finance minister, Mr. Jyrki Katainen, said last week that he does not believe Kemijärvi could force Stora Enso to sell its pulp mill.
