| FollaCell | |
| Type: | Private |
| Foundation: | 1908 |
| Location: | Steinkjer, Norway |
| Key People: | Odd Morten Aalberg (Manager) |
| Industry: | Pulp and Paper Industry |
| Products: | CTMP pulp |
| Num Employees: | 69 (2009) |
| Parent: | Mayr-Melnhof |
| Homepage: | http://www.mm-karton.com/en/company/mills/follacell/ |
FollaCell is a paper mill located in the village of Follafoss in Steinkjer Municipality in Trøndelag county, Norway. The mill produces 130,000 tonnes of CTMP pulp per year,[1] and is owned by Mayr-Melnhof.
Folla Bruk AS traditionally owned 170km2 of land in the old municipality of Verran, including 50km2 of productive forest. A pulp mill was established at Follafoss in 1908. In 1919, the company was bought by Nord-Trøndelag County Municipality. In 1982, the company was sold cheaply to Bjørn Lyng.[2] In 1988, the plant was sold to Norske Skog. Norske Skog sold the plant to Södra in 2000. The current plant was taken into use 1984. In 2007, the power company Nord-Trøndelag Elektrisitetsverk, owned by Nord-Trøndelag County Municipality, was investigated by the EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) for illegal subsidizing Södra Cell Folla with cheap electricity.[3] In 2010, ESA concluded that although there had been given selective subsidies, it was not illegal.[4] On August 28, 2012, Södra announced that it was ending its ownership and involvement with Södra Cell Folla.[5]
On 20 December 2012 it was announced that the Austria's Mayr-Melnhof has signed a Letter of Intent with Södra where they intend to buy 100% of the stocks in Södra Cell Folla AS and restart the factory as soon as possible during 1st quarter of 2013.[6]