The Metsä Svir sawmill in northwest Russia is a state-of-the-art production site, but timber innovation in this corner of Europe dates back centuries. TIMBER TRADITION CONTINUES AT METSÄ SVIR
TIM BIRD, photos YEFIM KRAVTSOV & ANNA RIVMAN
On the island of Kizhi in Europe’s second biggest lake, Onega, stand some centuries-old monuments to timber traditions. The island’s picturesque wooden churches, topped with their distinctive Orthodox domes and pro- tected by UNESCO World Heritage status, were construct- ed from timber harvested from the vast forests of the region, and without the use of nails. Legend has it that the master builder threw his axe into the lake, declaring that nothing could ever match the craft and beauty of his construction. Its history may not be as long and its function is quite dif- ferent, but the Metsä Fibre sawmill on the Svir River that connects Lake Onega with the even bigger Lake Ladoga also demonstrates the enduring historical bond between the people and the forests of northwest Russia. The current direct source of livelihood for 117 people, the sawmill celebrates its 15th anniversary in 2021 as an established link in the Metsä Fibre chain, with a reputation for the highest quality sawn timber products. The location on the edge of those vast forests is a key factor in the sawmill’s success, as General Manager Vyacheslav Kanatov confirms: “The sawmill was built on a greenfield site under an agreement between the Metsä Group and Leningrad re- gional administration ( Oblast ) that surrounds the city of St Petersburg,” he explains. “The place was ideal for the availability of timber re- sources in an area famous for its forests, between the Ka- relia and Vologda regions. So, we have excellent procure- ment from the best quality sawn spruce logs.” Another Metsä Group company, Metsä Forest Pod- porozhye (MFP), is located in the same area and procures timber for the mill, following all international principles
of legality and sustainability. Around 25–30 per cent is harvested in the areas leased by MFP with FSC® and PEFC™ Forest management certification. The rest is purchased from outside suppliers with strict legality and using an origin control system. It gives preference to suppliers with international Forest management certificates. Logistic connections were another key element in the choice of location. “The site has good rail and road connections, as well as access to the waterway. The Svir River and the two lakes are part of a network connected to the White Sea in the Arctic north and Volga River and Black Sea to the south,” Kanatov explains. Logs are supplied to the mill by truck, by train (to a near- by station and then by road) and by barge. Sawn timber is despatched direct to customers by truck or via the Port of St Petersburg as bulk or containerised freight. By-products are sent by truck or, for wood chips, mostly by train. “We are within easy reach of St Petersburg with its year- round port – we delivered about 40 per cent of sawn tim- ber by containers in 2020 – and about 500 kilometers from Finland, where we deliver by-products such as wood chips to Metsä Fibre’s pulp mills in Finland.” CAUSE FOR CELEBRATION A decade and a half of successful operations is cause for celebration. Although Mill Manager Pavel Gusev is keen to emphasise the relative newness of Metsä Svir, there has been a process of evolution and development to arrive at optimal productivity. “The most important improvements were updating the measurement control equipment and developing produc- tion to maximise yield. In terms of personnel, 100 per
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