Northern Pulp denies rumours about closure of Pictou County kraft pulp mill

HALIFAX (Scrap Monster): Northern Pulp has called the rumors about Abercrombie Point mill closure as baseless. Bruce Chapman, General Manager, Northern Pulp denied the rumours emphatically and stated that such rumours are simply not true. He called upon the mill operators not to get distracted by what is being said outside and urged them to concentrate on commissioning of electrostatic precipitator.

As per the legally binding order issued during August last year, the paper mill is required to get its air quality emissions in line before May 30^th, 2015. Northern Pulp stated that the pollution control equipment to be installed during May this year would bring the facility in line with other North American mills. The company is currently investing millions of dollars to get the equipment commissioned, which will help improve the environmental footprint.

Earlier in November last year, NS Environment Department had stated that the tests conducted at the mill revealed that the maintenance operations conducted during the month of September have brought the particulate emissions from the power boiler within the limit set by the Department. However, emissions from the recovery boiler were found to be still at slightly higher levels than the legal limits. The particulate reading at that time was still 78% higher than acceptable levels.

The Northern Pulp Nova Scotia Pulp Mill in Abercrombie Point, Pictou County, Nova Scotia has operated since 1967. The mill manufactures northern bleached softwood kraft (NBSK) from wood fibre. The mill provides direct jobs to nearly 300 and indirect employment to around 1,700 in the woods. The mill is considered as the largest consumer of wood fibre in Nova Scotia.