Middle East Paper Manufacturing and Production Company (MEPCO), a publicly listed Saudi company, has officially begun construction on its fifth paper production line, known as PM5. The project will be overseen by Al Tadweer Al Akhdar, a fully-owned subsidiary of MEPCO.
With a total investment of 1.78 billion Saudi riyals (approximately $474.6 million), including the land cost, PM5 is set to double MEPCO’s annual production capacity from 425,000 tonnes to 875,000 tonnes. The company aims to complete the project by the fourth quarter of 2027.
The new production line will enable MEPCO to manufacture high-quality, low-basis weight paper using energy-efficient technology. This will not only reduce operational costs compared to existing machines but also enhance the company’s sustainability efforts.
Additionally, PM5 is expected to significantly boost MEPCO’s revenue, create new employment opportunities, and stimulate local economic growth. The project will prioritize local sourcing and strengthen the domestic supply chain. Another key environmental benefit of PM5 is its ability to divert an extra 500,000 tonnes of paper waste from landfills annually, bringing MEPCO’s total paper waste repurposed to 1 million tonnes per year.