Saiccor - The First 50 Years 5.8 MB - Sappi

The Mazery Period (1989–1996)
advantage of the rising prices� As Saiccor’s production increased to 1
600 t/d in the last quarter of 1995, profits soared (average production
for 1995 was 1 400 t/d)�
However, in December 1995 the market turned down as sharply as it
had turned up in the second half of 1994� Dissolving pulp prices
plummeted as demand for pulp fell steeply� From 18 December 1995
Saiccor’s production was reduced to 1 000 t/d because of market
conditions (Nos 1 and 2 continua machines were shut down)� As a slowdown
had never occurred in Saiccor’s 41-year history, it had a debilitating
effect on people and plant� No 2 continua was restarted in May 1996
and No 1 in July 1996� Average production for 1996 was 1 173 t/d�
With the advent of the Mkomazi plant, some aspects of pulp
quality improved significantly, namely spots and resin, largely as a
result of replacing chlorine in the bleaching plant with oxygen and
chlorine dioxide� Disappointingly, calcium levels did not drop as
expected and by 1996 it was decided to reduce pH’s in first screening
and the first chlorine dioxide stage of bleaching� In mid-1996 schemes
were being drawn up to improve silica and ash – a capital application
for three projects was submitted in October 1996 to install a clarifier
in the woodyard (to be able to use more water for washing logs), a
filter for calcium cooking liquor, and a demin plant for bleach plant
wash water, at a total cost of R27 million�
Year Silica ppm Calcium ppm Ash ppm Resin % Spots /m 2
1994 105 115 783 0.13 498
1995 105 126 884 0.10 180
1996 105 50 732 0.07 34
In 1995, Saiccor produced commercial quantities of viscose quality
rolls and 94 alpha bales and rolls for the first time (from the Mkomazi
plant)�
Although the Mkomazi plant made Saiccor’s operation more
environmentally friendly (by replacing chlorine with oxygen and
chlorine dioxide), there was growing pressure from the local
communities for Saiccor to reduce atmospheric emissions� A number
of projects were initiated to do this:
The effluent pipe to replace the open channel
A sixth venturi in the magnesium plant
A liquor storage tank in SO 2 Recovery
A scrubber for No 1 and No 2 bleaching
A low concentration gas collection system
These projects were all commissioned by February 1997 and sulphur
dioxide emissions were down to 20 per cent of what they were in 1986�
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