Botnia has received approval from the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change for Fray Bentos pulp mill bio-energy production as a Clean Development Mechanism project The Botnia Fray Bentos pulp mill power plant generates electricity from biomass, i.e. from dissolved wood material. Part of this power is used for the pulp mill processes. The production of surplus energy has been presented as a biomass electricity generation project in the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), determined in the Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The purpose of CDM, and thus of this project, is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to promote sustainable development. The Botnia CDM project was recognised in December 2006 by DINAMA (designated national authority) as a project that contributes to sustainable development in Uruguay. It received the validation of an independent third party, Det Norske Veritas (DNV), in March 2008 and has now been registered in the UNFCCC. According to this approval, Botnia will annually receive certified emission reductions (CER's) for the amount of greenhouse gas emissions avoided by this project. These certificates have an economic value that is fixed by the international market as a way of stimulating companies to invest in CDM projects in developing countries. Fray Bentos mill's biomass-based surplus electricity generation is 32 MW and the reduction in carbon dioxide emissions will be approximately 45,000 tons per year. For additional information, please contact Mrs Kirsi Seppäläinen, Manager Communications, tel. +358 400 786659 More information on UNCCC and CDM at http://cdm.unfccc.int