Norske Skog

OSLO, Norway, July 6, 2021 (Press Release) -Norske Skog has expanded its partnership with Ocean GeoLoop to support development, testing and commercialisation of their highly promising Carbon Capture, Storage and Utilisation (CCS/CCU) technologies. Through this partnership, Norske Skog aims to pursue the opportunity to become CO2 net negative, and to explore economically viable models for utilisation of biogenic CO2.

“The green shift has been a key priority at Norske Skog for several years. In Norway in 2020, our fossil CO2 emissions were just above 15,000 tonnes out of Norway’s total of approximately 50 million tonnes. The reduction of fossil CO2 emissions has with significant success been incentivised by Governments and international organisations, but limited attention has been given to biogenic CO2 emissions. As Norske Skog is approaching zero fossil CO2 emissions in Norway, we will start to explore economically viable opportunities for utilisation of biogenic CO2. Through the partnership with Ocean GeoLoop, we aim to support development, testing and commercialisation of their CCS/CCU technologies, and to collaborate on identifying valuable utilisation opportunities. Over time, the ambition is to make it financially sound to become CO2 net negative,” says Norske Skog’s CEO Sven Ombudstvedt.

Ocean GeoLoop has built on decades of research when developing its portfolio of disruptive CCS/CCU technologies. On basis of promising results from lab experiments and construction of a prototype over the last months, the company is now in the process of establishing industrial scale pilots in connection with the Norske Skog Skogn industrial site, Fiborgtangen.

Today, most regulatory frameworks mostly reward reductions in fossil CO2 emissions. Through collaboration with Ocean GeoLoop at Norske Skog Skogn and Borg CO2 at Norske Skog Saugbrugs, Norske Skog aims to support the work to develop economically viable utilisation models for biogenic CO2 (i.e. CO2 emissions from carbon in biomass and that are considered part of the circular system, in contrast to fossil fuels).

Norske Skog Skogn will also participate as industrial partner to Ocean GeoLoop in a recently submitted Green Platform grant application. If approved, the initiatives outlined under the Green Platform will include further development, testing and commercialisation of the CCS/CCU technologies.

“The qualities and infrastructure of the Norske Skog Skogn industrial site at Fiborgtangen seem to be very suitable to demonstrate at scale the CCS/CCU technologies developed by Ocean GeoLoop. We are eager to continue our positive collaboration efforts together with Ocean GeoLoop and to progress the development, testing and commercialisation of their CCS/CCU technologies,” says Managing Director of Norske Skog Skogn Bjørn Einar Ugedal.

“Joining forces with a strong industrial partner as Norske Skog gives us a long-term perspective, and an exciting development arena, for our continued effort in developing industrial pilots to prove and demonstrate our technologies. The Fiborgtangen industrial site, is a hub for process industry and circular economy, and we look forward to scale up the activities in partnership with Norske Skog,” says Ocean GeoLoop’s CEO Odd-Geir Lademo.

Ocean GeoLoop successfully raised NOK 100 million on 30 June 2021, to finance its development and scale-up ambitions. To highlight Norske Skog’s belief in Ocean GeoLoop and its technologies, and the commitment to become CO2 net negative, Norske Skog participated in the capital raise and will hold approximately 2% of the share capital following completion. In addition, Norske Skog’s SVP Corporate Strategy, Lars P. S. Sperre, will join the board of directors of Ocean GeoLoop.

OSLO, Norway, June 10, 2021 (Press Release) -In connection with the World Environment Day on 5 June, Norske Skog’s Skogn production facility was awarded Norwegian political party SV’s local environmental award.

This is the third time Norske Skog Skogn receives this recognition since the award was established in 1985. The award pointed to Norske Skog Skogn as a sustainable cornerstone business.

Norske Skog Skogn received the award specifically for their efforts in the road to rail strategy, which has brought Norske Skog Skogn’s timber transportation from trucks to trains. In collaboration with Bane NOR and CargoNet, Norske Skog Skogn has taken 30 000 cubic metres of timber off the roads, corresponding to 25 fewer trucks on the roads per week in the district of Trøndelag, Norway.

This means reduced CO2 emissions, safer roads, less airborne dust, and lowered exhaust emissions in the communities in which Norske Skog operates. In addition, the change in transportation mode means shorter transportation times, ensuring that Norske Skog Skogn receives timber that is fresher, which in turn allows for less usage of chemicals in the production process.

- Three awards in 35 years are great, but we strive to win even more often. We hope to see more opportunities to increase transportation by train to the north and east, where transportation by sea is unavailable, said Bjørn Einar Ugedal, Managing Director of Norske Skog Skogn.

Last time around, it was indeed Norske Skog Skogn’s transportation by sea which secured the award.

OSLO, Norway, June 8, 2021 (Press Release) -The transport of timber and wood chips between Larvik and Norske Skog Saugbrugs in Halden has long taken place using trucks. Norske Skog is now using trains on the stretch, which will significantly reduce CO2 emissions from the transport.

The train line will transport timber and wood chips from Bergene Holm in Amundrød near Larvik to Norske Skog Saugbrugs in Halden. The transport to the east will consist of an approximate 50/50 split between wood chips from the sawmill at Amundrød and pulpwood from surrounding forests. In return, Bergene Holm will transport sawn timber from the Halden area to the sawmill at Amundrød.

Norske Skog Saugbrugs works actively to streamline the flow of goods in and out of the factory at the same time as we have set high sustainability goals. With the railway freight of wood chips from Larvik to Halden, we will remove 800 truck loads from the roads. This is a good traffic safety measure, but will also be an excellent environmental improvement as CO2 emissions are reduced, says Kjell Arve Kure, CEO of Norske Skog Saugbrugs.

Thanks to Norske Skog Saugbrug's strategy of moving transport from road to rail, by the end of 2021 the company will annually have a total of 7 500 fewer lorries on Norwegian roads compared with 2015. Following the introduction of all transport measures, Norske Skog Saugbrugs will have reduced CO2 overall emissions for inbound timber and wood chip logistics by just over 25 per cent.

 Bergene Holm transports 7-800 lorries from the factory in Larvik to Norske Skog Saugbrugs. Using the train both directions between the proposed terminal in Larvik and to Halden will provide environmentally friendly and efficient transport between the mills. Today's terminal in Skien is not an appropriate or environmentally efficient location for Bergene Holm as it is located in the wrong geographical direction and increased transport distances and costs result in negative environmental accounts. The train will also contribute to securing the raw material supply to the sawmill in Larvik by allowing sawn timber to be returned, says Erland Løkken, CEO of Bergene Holm.

Norske Skog's transition from road to rail has already begun, made possible by previously completed rebuilding to increase the capacity for receiving industrial chips in Halden. The train transport from Amundrød to Norske Skog Saugbrugs started already on 20 November 2020, but requires further measures to reduce transport costs. The most important measure is to move the loading and unloading station from Borgestad to Larvik Harbor. The Port of Larvik has applied to Larvik Municipality for permission to do so. The municipality's processing of the application will be completed with meetings of the chairmanship and the municipal council, on 9 and 16 June, respectively.

In addition to lower greenhouse gas emissions, traffic safety will also benefit from Norske Skog's initative by removing thousands of trucks from the roads. Locally, the measures will also contribute to reduced airborne dust and less emissions of exhaust in places such as Oslo and Halden.

About Norske Skog Saugbrugs

Norske Skog Saugbrugs has 400 employees, turnover of approximately NOK 2.0 billion, and production capacity of 330 000 tonnes SC magazine paper targeting markets in Europe and North-America. Saugbrugs produces 2.0 million normal cubic metres of biogas annually.