Northern Pulp mill in Pictou County to shut down on May 30th for repairs

HALIFAX (Scrap Monster): It has now become evident that the Northern Pulp mill in Pictou County will be unable to meet its May 30 deadline to install anti-pollution equipment. The company has announced its decision to shut down the mill in order to install the device as ordered earlier by the government. The NS government, while granting 5-year industrial approval for the mill, had ordered the company to install stricter emission control mechanisms by May 30^th this year.

The company has now decided to shut down the mill for a period of 15 days towards maintenance activities required to connect the new precipitator device to ductwork. According to Bruce Chapman, General Manager, the maintenance shutdown will commence on May 30^th. The estimated cost of the proposed maintenance work is approximately $10 million. The unionized employees of the mill will continue to remain on the job during the maintenance period. The company will employ additional 600 people to carry out the work. Chapman refused to comment on when the precipitator will become operational. However, he clarified that the mill will not restart operations until the precipitator is ready for use.

The installation of $22 million precipitator equipment was delayed due to several reasons including winter storms. Also, the mill was forced to take up the installation job after the US supplier backed out of its contract with the company to install the device.

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.