Middle East Paper Co. (MEPCO) has started on Thursday trial production at its paper recycling unit in Jeddah, which will allow the company to save more raw materials.

Equipment tests at the plant have already been completed. The company said it expects to test the unit at full capacity, which stands at around 350,000 ton/year.

Commercial start-up is expected this coming September.

Investment costs for the unit have reached SAR 53 million; 32 percent of which were self-financed, 50 percent came from the Saudi Industrial Investment Fund, while 18 percent was financed through Murabaha.