Press releases, Story date : 28 October 1999

Helsinki City Council approved joint water treatment company with Kemira Chemicals

The City Council has approved an agreement between the City and Kemira Chemicals to set up a joint venture company in the water utilities field. The holding of Kemira Chemicals will be 51 % and that of Helsinki City 49 %.

The new company, Kemwater Services Oy, will make use of the special skills acquired by the Kemira Chemicals' Kemwater unit and the Helsinki city company Helsinki Water in the field of potable water and wastewater treatment.

Yrjö Sipilä, President, Kemira Chemicals, says "A closer form of cooperation with Helsinki Water is well placed in Kemira’s sharpened up business strategy which was made public only recently. Accordingly, both water treatment chemicals and know-how are among the areas where Kemira expects to see solid growth."

Jorma Tsubari, MD, Helsinki Water, says "We will be able to make use of our know-how in water-related areas, and new ways to strengthen and develop our business will be available in a situation where traditional clean water comsumption is declining. The new company will market know-how in Finland and in nearby areas to a potental clientele consisting of municipal and private potable and wastewater treatment facilities."

As a pioneer, Helsinki Water has introduced advanced water treatment processes such as the use of ozone and active carbon in drinking water treatment. It has also built a wastewater treatment plant in Viikinmäki, Helsinki, which uses the latest technology in the industry.

The Baltic Sea region is one of the most important market areas for Kemira Chemicals. The company's Kemwater unit is one of the world's leading manufacturers of coagulants for water treatment. It has production facilities in nearly 30 countries including Nordic countries, Germany, Estonia and Poland.

The new company will implement water treatment applications, construct plants, participate in operation and train personnel for evermore demanding requirements. The company will offer new employment opportunities both to current personnel and to new employees in a number of fields.

Kemira Chemicals is part of the Kemira group. In addition to water treatment chemicals and methods it operates in the field of pulp and paper chemicals and other industrial chemicals. Net sales in 1998 were euro 630 million or FIM 3.7 billion.