The Saica Group has accepted a €32.7 million grant from the Spanish Ministry of Industry and Tourism to support its Strategic Project for Economic Recovery and Transformation (PERTE), aimed at decarbonising its recycled paper production process at the El Burgo de Ebro plant in Zaragoza.
The project, which has been declared of Regional Interest by the Government of Aragon, involves a total investment of €101.5 million and is expected to create 440 jobs, including 40 direct positions, 200 indirect jobs, and 200 related to infrastructure construction. Saica Group is urging authorities to expedite the necessary administrative permits to ensure the project meets the strict deadlines required to secure the funding.
As part of the initiative, six primary projects will be implemented at the El Burgo plant, where three paper machines currently produce 1.3 million tonnes of 100% recycled and recyclable paper annually for packaging. The overall goal is to reduce fossil-based CO2 emissions at the facility by 53% through efficiency improvements and reduced natural gas consumption.
The key elements of the project include the construction of a biomass energy generation plant capable of producing over 700,000 tonnes of steam per year, the establishment of a biomass preparation plant processing approximately 160,000 tonnes annually, the installation of a back-pressure steam turbine in the existing energy recovery plant, and the deployment of a biogas boiler to recover energy from the site's water treatment facility.
“We are very grateful for the institutional support received for this strategic and exciting project, which will significantly cut emissions at our El Burgo de Ebro plant,” said Susana Alejandro, President and CEO of the Saica Group. She also stressed the importance of efficient administrative procedures to prevent delays that could jeopardize the grant.
The Saica Group provides sustainable paper solutions for corrugated board and packaging, fostering circularity in waste management. With over 12,000 employees and operations in Spain, France, Italy, Portugal, the UK, Ireland, Turkey, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland, and the US, the company operates four main divisions: Saica Paper (recycled paper production), Saica Natur (waste management and environmental services), Saica Pack (corrugated board packaging), and Saica Flex (flexible packaging). Saica Group reported consolidated sales exceeding €3.4 billion as of December 31, 2024.
