Conifex Extends Temporary Curtailment at Mackenzie Operations

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): Conifex Timber Inc. announced its decision to extend the temporary curtailment at Mackenzie sawmill operations for additional period of three weeks. The curtailment will now continue until September 3, 2019. It must be noted that the company had initially announced curtailment of operations for two weeks commencing July 29, 2019. The decision to extend the downtime is mainly due to ongoing tough lumber market conditions and continued high log costs, said the company press release.

Kenneth Shields, Chair and CEO of Conifex expressed deep regrets on the impacts the curtailment will have on its employees and the community. The company is exploring all possibilities to sustain operations through the remainder of 2019, in consultation with the Ministry of Forests, Land, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development, the District of Mackenzie, and other forest industry stakeholders, he added.

The temporary curtailment announced in end-July, along with the extension announced now, is expected to reduce the company’s B.C. area lumber output in Q3 by approximately 25 million board feet.