Among the investments, more than €160 million has been allocated to expanding and improving production processes and developing fluff pulp for the European absorbent products market as an alternative to long-fiber pulp.
The fluff pulp project makes Ence’s Navia bioplant a European benchmark: it is a pioneer and the only facility producing this type of pulp from eucalyptus. The company is already carrying out fluff pulp qualification processes with more than 70 customers internationally.
Ence is also inaugurating a new, higher-capacity wood processing line, replacing one of the existing lines at its wood yard. The facility includes two debarkers and a chipper and can process 5,400 cubic meters of wood per day. This upgrade increases the availability of bark from the company’s own operations for use as biofuel in the biomass boiler. It therefore reduces Ence’s reliance on externally sourced biomass, makes better use of by-products and strengthens its circular economy model.
The third project focuses on replacing fossil fuels in the lime kilns with biomass and installing new multi-fuel burners. The company aims to fully decarbonize the Navia plant and reduce CO₂ emissions by more than 40,000 tons a year.
Together, the wood processing and lime kiln projects, which increase the bioplant’s energy efficiency, represent an investment of €48 million. Of this amount, €13 million has been financed through the energy efficiency programme of Spain’s Institute for Energy Diversification and Saving (IDAE).
Molded pulp
The molded pulp project is also progressing in line with its planned timetable. Ence is investing €12 million in its first phase. This innovative project represents a significant step towards replacing plastic packaging in the food sector. Ence is thus advancing a circular economy model that creates new industrial opportunities for Asturias.
