Last month, Google announced to everyone's surprise its intention to buy the discontinued Summa Paper Mill near Hamina. Stora Enso, the former owner, closed the factory more than a year ago, which was a severe blow to local employment levels.

Google paid 40 million euros for the factory site, and plans to run search engine, email, and map services from it. The renovations will employ around 200 people, and the completed server centre will provide 50 jobs. The site could be up and running by next year.

The deal will not affect an agreement between Stora Enso and the city of Hamina to transfer part of the factory site to the city for other uses.