Category Archives: Mill Expansions/Openings

Rentech has acquired two decommissioned fibre mills in Ontario and plans to produce wood pellets in both to fulfill pellet delivery contracts with Drax and Ontario Power Generation (OPG).

The two mills are:

• Wawa – former Weyerhaeuser OSB processing mill
• Atikokan – former Atikokan Renewable Fuels particle board processing mill

Pellet Supply Contracts

Rentech has wood pellet supply contracts already in place:

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West Fraser Mills‘ Chetwynd Forest Industries is continuing on with Phase 2 of a $35 million upgrade to its sawmill in Chetwynd, British Columbia.

The sawmill is being upgraded from a one million board feet per day average up to 1.365 million a day.

With the increase in productivity, 2 shifts will be maintained at the mill, with additional hours for the planer.

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In 2010, Georgia-Pacific bought two OSB mills from Grant Forest Products in South Carolina – one in Allendale and one in Clarendon.

The Clarendon facility was still under construction and had never operated, and the Allendale facility in Fairfax, South Carolina was completed in 2007.  Grant Forest Products had planned to start operations at the Clarendon facility as soon as the housing market allowed, but the company entered bankruptcy protection in 2009.

Georgia-Pacific opened the Allendale mill in 2010 and employs 120 people.

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CBC News is reporting on the plans to restart the mill in Longlac, Ontario and is highlighting the fact the mill will be allowed to reopen without having to repay the $24 million the company owes Ontario taxpayers.

Long Lake Forest Products Inc., part of the Buchanan Group of Companies, previously owned  the Longlac mill and the mill in nearby Nakina.  Due to bankruptcy, new companies have been formed, Longlac Lumber Inc. and Nakina Lumber Inc., that now hold the assets of the mills.

Both new companies are operated Ken Buchanan Sr. These new companies have no stumpage debt with the province.  According to a spokesperson for the Ontario Minister of Natural Resources, all the debts of Long Lake Forest Products Inc. are being dealt with through the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act legislation and the applicable court processes.

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It will be at least another 1.5 years before the Prince Albert pulp mill in Saskatchewan will be operating again.

The mill was closed by Weyerhaeuser in 2006.  Domtar acquired  the mill in 2007 in its merger with Weyerhaeuser’s fine paper assets.

Paper Excellence purchased the mill in 2011 from Domtar and plans to convert the mill to a dissolving pulp operation by the fall of 2013.

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Lakeland Mills Ltd. announced today it will build a new sawmill to replace the mill destroyed in a tragic explosion and fire on April 23, 2012.

“Today is a great day for Lakeland, for our employees and for the community of Prince George,” said Greg Stewart, president of , of which Lakeland Mills is a division. “As a company, we believe in this community. Three generations of owners and employees have lived and worked here for 50 years. So this decision is as much about our belief in family and community as it is a good business decision.”

Design development on the new sawmill has not been completed, so details such as its size and production capacity are not yet available.

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CBC‘s Land and Sea television program aired an episode today titled “Maritime Forestry“.

The episode shows how many rural maritime communities with deep roots in the forest are struggling to survive.

The show highlights:

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EACOM Timber Corporation announced this week that it has concluded with its insurer the negotiation of a global settlement in the amount of $48,250,000 in respect of the fire that occurred at its Timmins, Ontario mill in January 2012.

As at September 30, 2012, the company had received $23,700,000 of insurance proceeds, of which $13,700,000 related to business interruption and $10,000,000 for damage or destruction of assets.

During the fourth quarter, the company collected a further $6,900,000 in respect of business interruption. The company received the remaining proceeds of $17,400,000 this week.

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Some mill workers of Resolute Forest Products’ mill in Fort Frances, Ontario are being temporarily recalled.

The workers will be working on a scheduled maintenance repair.

CFOB-News is reporting about a dozen CEP union members are being recalled, and some from other unions. They have been asked to report in early March.

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The Harmac pulp mill is progressing towards energy self sufficiency.

The mill, owned by Nanaimo Forest Products, is building a $45 million electrical generation plant capable of producing 25 megawatts.

15 megawatts will be sold to B.C. Hydro under a 15 year power supply agreement.

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