PSJ builds an oriented strand board (OSB) manufacturing plant near Petrozavodsk
15 Jun 2011
The largest contract of PSJ, a.s. in its 21-years old history is underway in the Republic of Karelia, near the town of Petrozavodsk. Its financial volume reaches EUR 151 million, which equals to CZK 3.775 billion. A new plant for production of OSB boards rises on green field land for the investor OOO DOK Kalevala. A part of the PSJ’s contract is also supply from the company Siempelkamp, which is German manufacturer of technology. PSJ implemented a similar manufacturing plant for Kronospan in Jihlava in 2004 – 2005.
The funding of the project is provided by Czech Export Bank in collaboration with Czech Export Guarantee and Insurance Corporation (EGAP). Completion of the extensive contract is scheduled for the second half of next year. The new plant is designed to produce about 300,000 cubic meters of OSB annually in its first stage.
“Interest in the Russian media indicates the importance of this investment as well as recent visit site of Mr. Andrej Nelidov, the Head of the Republic of Karelia and Mr. Nicholas Levin, the Mayor of Petrozavodsk. We had been preparing the implementation of the project more than two and a half years. And to be frankly speaking, without considerable financial support from PSJ, the construction would not have started„ says Jaroslav Jirkovský, Director of PSJ’s Export Division.
Building machines first drove into the site as far back as in June 2010.
The plant is comprised primarily of a number of interconnected specialized technological equipment and facilities, office buildings, warehouse equipment, industrial and local sewage treatment plants, two rail sidings, two separate gatehouses, a number of concrete surfaces and area roads. The Kalevala complex covers 380.755 m2 in total; the built-up area including outdoor storage space is 158.848 m2. Individual buildings are structurally made up of prefabricated reinforced concrete structural systems and steel roof trusses. Objects have sheathing of sandwich panels with skylight bands.
“PSJ implements the construction part of the works through its main local subcontractor – the company Kompakt from St. Petersburg, while Czech subcontractors provide a wide range of specialized building trades and technologies” says Mr. Pavel Duran, Project Manager and the leader of PSJ’s realization team.
Due to the impact of the current crisis on Czech construction industry, PSJ focuses more on engagements abroad. As regards the annual financial volume and percentage share, foreign activity of the company is at historical peak, when it forms 36% of an annual company turnover.
The most significant foreign activities of PSJ happen in Russia. In December 2009, the implementation of a large shopping and entertainment center M5 Mall in Ryazan was commenced (financial volume EUR 119.9 million, completion expected in December 2011). Another significant step in the Russian market will be construction of MEGAPOLIS residential complex in the city of Kazan (financial volume EUR 32 million), with financing provided by Czech Komerční Banka. In addition, construction of an office building in Arkhangelsk is drawing to its end (financial volume EUR 3.3 million, completion in June 2011).
The largest PSJ’s ongoing contract outside Russia is construction of Sea World Residence tourist complex in the town of Hammamet in Tunisia (financial volume EUR 56 million, completion by the end of 2012). Even this contract is implemented with financial assistance from the Czech Export Bank and EGAP.
