Shotton Mill Permit Could Double Paper Production Capacity to 820,000 tonnes a Year

Natural Resources Wales (NRW) has indicated it is minded to issue a revised environmental permit for Shotton Paper Mill, allowing the site to produce up to 820,000 tonnes of paper annually, more than double its previous newsprint-era capacity of 400,000 tonnes.

The proposed permit would allow Shotton Mill Limited to manufacture 750,000 tonnes of containerboard and 70,000 tonnes of tissue paper each year at its facility on Weighbridge Road. The company has until Wednesday, November 18, to receive public comments on NRW’s draft decision.

Shotton Mill Limited, part of Turkey-based Eren Holding, applied for the permit variation following the site's transition from newsprint manufacturing to recycled packaging paper and tissue production. Eren Holding acquired the mill from UPM in 2021.

The redevelopment was announced in September 2024, with the UK and Welsh governments confirming more than £1 billion in investment. The project was expected to safeguard 147 existing jobs and create another 220 once the facility was fully commissioned.

The Welsh Government provided almost £13 million in funding, while UK Export Finance offered £136 million in support. The financial assistance was linked to a commitment for the mill to export 10% of its turnover within five years.

The site's new combined heat and power plant includes two 64-megawatt gas turbines, each fitted with a 75-metre chimney. Two backup boilers share a 30-metre stack and are restricted to operating when the turbines are unavailable, for a maximum of 730 hours annually.

NRW's draft decision also notes that the site has been designed to accommodate a possible third gas turbine, although the proposed permit covers only two. An anaerobic digestion plant will process papermaking wastewater, with the resulting gas used to power two engines. Both facilities require further written approval from NRW before starting operations.

The regulator assessed potential environmental impacts, including emissions, noise, fire safety and wastewater discharge. It classified predicted nitrogen oxide impacts at nearby homes as insignificant and noise levels at the nearest residential properties as low risk.

Treated wastewater will continue to be discharged into the River Dee at the existing volume. NRW has tightened certain pollutant limits per tonne of production to prevent an increase in total annual discharges despite the higher manufacturing capacity.

The revised permit will also remove equipment associated with the site's former newsprint operations, including two paper machines, a de-inking plant and two old boilers.

NRW said it would issue the permit variation only if it was satisfied that significant pollution would not be caused and that the operator could comply with the permit conditions.