Portucel, S.A. establishing operations in Greenwood County

COLUMBIA, S.C. – An industrial company is establishing operations in Greenwood County to convert forest matter into wood pellets. Portucel, S.A. is investing $110 million to open a manufacturing facility in Greenwood, S.C. The investment is expected to create 70 new jobs.

Portucel is an integrated forest, pulp, paper and energy company and is currently Europe´s largest producer of uncoated wood free paper. It has total paper capacity of 1.5 million tons/year and eucalyptus pulp capacity of 1.3 million tons. Its activities are based at three large scale production mills in Portugal which have state of the art technology and are a benchmark for quality in the sector.  Portucel is listed in Euronext, a pan-European stock exchange. The company's long term majority shareholder is focused on industrial assets.

Today, the Portucel Group accounts for more than three percent of Portugal’s tangible exports. As of September 2014, the company achieved record paper output, as its year over year sales volume saw an increase of three percent, to 1.147 million tons. Portucel’s facility in Greenwood County will be located in the Emerald Road Industrial Corridor and is expected to have a production capacity of 460 thousand tons per year once it is fully operational.

Hiring for new positions is expected to begin in January 2015. Those interested in joining the Portucel team will soon have the company’s recruitment page online. For more information on Portucel, S.A. please visit www.portucelsoporcel.com.

The Coordinating Council for Economic Development has approved a $150,000 grant to assist with the costs of road, site and infrastructure improvements as well as job development credits related to the project.

QUOTES

“The Portucel Group is very pleased to announce the construction of its new, state-of-the-art wood pellet facility in Greenwood, S.C.  Our facility will provide a renewable, sustainable source of energy for many thousands of electricity consumers for years to come, as well as jobs to many South Carolinians.  We are extremely grateful to Governor Haley, the SC Department of Commerce and the County of Greenwood for the warm welcome they have given our team during the lengthy evaluation and feasibility process through which this project matured.  We are confident that we have found the right partners in South Carolina and that together we can provide a steady source of safe, reliable and renewable energy for the 21st century.” –Portucel Soporcel Group CEO Diogo da Silveira

“We’re excited to welcome Portucel, S.A. to the South Carolina and once again see an international company choose to do business here and put South Carolinians to work. Their $110 million investment and the 70 new jobs they are creating is great news for Greenwood County and our state.” –Gov. Nikki Haley

“Recruiting foreign-based firms, like Portucel, S.A., to South Carolina is a critical part of our economic development strategy. Portucel’s decision to establish manufacturing operations in Greenwood County is great news for the local community and state as a whole.” –Secretary of Commerce Bobby Hitt

“On behalf of Greenwood County and Greenwood County Council I would like to welcome Colombo Energy, Inc.-a subsidiary of Portucel, S.A., to our community.  The company’s decision to invest $110 million and create 70 new jobs is great news and we look forward to working with them to ensure a strong, successful partnership for many years to come.” –Greenwood County Council Chairman Mark Allison

“Today’s announcement is a classic example of being ready to meet the needs of industry with quality sites and infrastructure. We congratulate Colombo Energy, Inc.-a subsidiary of Portucel, S.A., on their decision to locate their first U.S. facility in Greenwood County on one of our certified sites and we look forward to having another international company in the community.”  –Greenwood Partnership Alliance Chairman Rudy Powell

FIVE FAST FACTS

• Portucel, S.A. is establishing operations in Greenwood County.
• $110 million investment creating 70 new jobs.
• Portucel, S.A. is Europe´s largest producer of printing and writing papers
• The Greenwood County facility will be located in the Emerald Road Industrial Corridor.
• Those interested in joining the Portucel team may visit the company’s recruitment page online.

   

About Portucel, S.A.
The Portucel Soporcel group is one of Portugal's leading players on the world stage, accounting for more than 3% of the country's visible exports. The Company has had a significant impact on the Portuguese economy, positioning the Group as the leading European manufacturer of UWF printing and writing paper and the 6th largest producer in the world. This has placed Portugal at the top of the European ranking of countries manufacturing this type of paper. The Group is also Europe's leading manufacturer, and one of the largest producers in the world, of bleached eucalyptus kraft pulp (BEKP). The Group currently boasts an annual production capacity of 1.6 million tons of paper, 1.4 million tons of pulp (of which 1.1 million is integrated into paper) and power generation of 2.5 TWh, adding up to an annual revenue of over 1,500 million euros. The Group has successfully pursued a strategy of innovation and development of its own brands, which today account for 60% of sales of manufactured products. Special mention should be made of the Navigator brand, the world's best-selling product in the premium office paper segment. The Group's sales are made to 113 countries in five continents, with Europe and the United States as the two main destinations. The Group manages woodlands occupying some 120 thousand hectares (296,400 acres) and is committed to improving and protecting Portugal's forests. Its sustainable management model has been certified under the internationally recognized FSC® and PEFCTM schemes. The Group is also a leader in the energy sector and Portugal's leading producer of green energy from biomass, a renewable energy source. For more information on Portucel, S.A. visit www.portucelsoporcel.com.