Kruger Suspends Newsprint Operations at Corner Brook Mill

The CBPP mill operates two machines with a combined capacity of 240,000 tpy of newsprint.

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): Canadian forestry group Kruger has temporarily suspended operations at its Corner Brook pulp and paper (CBPP) mill. The company explained that due to the ongoing wildfire emergency affecting the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador, it had stopped all forest operations as of 9 August. As a result of limited fibre availability, mill operations and therefore newsprint production were also paused starting 15 August. 'With no significant rainfall expected in the coming days, the estimated downtime is approximately three weeks,' Kruger announced on 13 August.

The CBPP mill operates two machines with a combined capacity of 240,000 tpy of newsprint. The site also houses two hydroelectric plants as well as a biomass cogeneration plant and has a woodlands department. Kruger says that customer needs are being managed on a case-by-case basis, leveraging inventories to minimise disruption.

Canada is currently experiencing major wildfires. According to the Canadian National Wildland Fire Situation Report of 13 August, an area of 7.5 million hectares of land had already burned, making it already the second-worst wildfire season in Canada on record.

Only recently, Kruger had announced a major investment proposal involving an investment sum of up to CAD700m for the CBPP mill, aiming at diversifying and modernising the site. The company is currently in discussions with the provincial government concerning the project. Amongst other things, Kruger intends to modernise paper manufacturing operations, build a new pulp storage facility and improve infrastructure and logistics in general. A company spokesperson told EUWID that various options to evolve into specialty products were being considered. Newsprint production would be maintained, though.

Courtesy: www.euwid-paper.com