Water quality study for SW eucalypt pulp mill (A/Prem)

International consultancy firm Jaakko Poyry has been appointed to conduct a water quality study for a proposed eucalypt pulp mill in the South West, Acting Premier Ian Taylor announced today.

Mr Taylor said the firm would examine the potential use of brackish water in the pulping and bleaching processes.

"While pulp mills traditionally have required high quality fresh water supplies, we should examine whether it might be feasible to use the large quantities of brackish water available," Mr Taylor said.

"If, for example, water from the Wellington Dam proved suitable, it would have obvious environmental advantages as well as alleviating significant infrastructure costs involved in constructing a new dam."

Mr Taylor said the study would examine the effect of a range of water salinities on the pulping and bleaching processes and on the plant engineering requirements.

"It also will look at the prospect of partitioning the water supply to parts of the process to maximise the potential use of brackish supplies and minimise the use of fresh supplies," he said.

Mr Taylor said the successful tenderer, Jaakko Poyry, was a Finnish company with substantial resources based in Melbourne.

"While their tender price was the most competitive, I am also confident of their reputation as one of the most experienced and respected consulting organisations in the international pulp and paper industry."

The proposed pulp mill would produce 450,000 air dry tonne (ADT) bleach eucalyptus kraft pulp (BEKP) annually and could begin operations by 1998.

Under existing technology, the mill would require about 50 cubic metres of water per ADT of pulp produced or some 20 million cubic metres of water per year.

"The State has a number of potential water sources which could meet the quantity required for the planned scale of operation, however these sources vary in quality," Mr Taylor said.

"Once we have a clear understanding of the suitability of lower quality water, we then can look closer at site options, the cost of infrastructure and associated social and environmental impacts.

"The results of this study are essential to any subsequent feasibility report."