Ngodwana Mill has been in operation since 1966 and entered the dissolving pulp (DP) market in 2013 with the conversion of part of the mill’s paper grade pulp production to DP production.
The mill produces paper grade pulp for own and for market consumption, as well as newsprint, containerboard and DP. It is located along the N4 national road in the scenic Elands Valley, 50 km from Mbombela, the capital city of Mpumalanga province.
Conveniently situated amidst Sappi’s own commercial forestry operations, the mill produces 320,000 tons of paper pulp for own consumption, 255,000 tons of DP and 380,000 tons of paper (newsprint and kraft linerboard used for packaging) per annum. 70% of the mill’s production is exported and the balance is used locally.
The mill generates its own energy in the form of steam and electricity from renewable and other sources. On average, the mill exports power to the national grid, helping to fuel the growing local economy.
Ngodwana Mill is a major role player in the province, contributing over ZAR5 billion annually to the local economy. The mill employs over 1,000 staff and 700 contractors and more than 43,000 people in the province depend on Sappi for their livelihood.
Since the mill produced its first pulp fifty years ago, the mill has undergone numerous significant expansions, including the addition of two paper machines, a coal-fired power boiler and a DP plant.
Ngodwana Mill is Forest Stewardship Council™ (FSC™)-accredited and complies with responsible and sustainable forestation practices. It was also the first integrated pulp and paper mill in South Africa to be accredited with the internationally recognised environmental management system (ISO 14001), and has also been accredited with the quality management system (ISO 9001). Safety is Ngodwana Mill’s number one priority and the mill complies with the safety management system (OHSAS 18001).
As part of the mill’s sustainability journey, great care is taken to minimise the use of natural resources; reduce air emissions, effluent discharge and solid waste; as well as improve energy efficiency. The mill has been uniquely designed to minimise the use of freshwater and performs in the top fifth percentile of integrated pulp and paper mills worldwide in this regard.
Address
- N4 National Road
- 1209 Ngodwana
- South Africa
Contact
- Elsabe Coetzee
- Regional Communications Manager
- Tel: +27 (0)13 734 6111
- Fax: +27 (0)13 734 6535
- Email: NgodwanaMill@sappi.com