Canfor Pulp blames its decision on reduced availability of residual fibre for pulping. Paper operations at Prince George to be continued.
Canada's Canfor Pulp will close for good the pulp line at its Prince George Pulp and Paper Mill in British Columbia. The fibre line produces 280,000 tpy of market NBSK (northern bleached softwood kraft) pulp. The closure is expected to be completed by the end of the first quarter and will impact approximately 300 jobs across the company.
Canfor Pulp explained that the "right-sizing of operating footprint" was necessary due to reduced acess to economic residual fibre. "In recent years, several sawmills have permanently closed in the Prince George region due to reductions in the allowable annual cut and challenges accessing cost-competitive fibre. This has had a material impact on the availability of residual fibre for our pulp facilities," Canfor Pulp announced.
Specialty paper operations at the Price George site are not affected and will continue to operate, according to the company.
Canfor Pulp, part of Canada's forest products company Canfor Corporation, also temporarily reduced output at its Intercontinental Pulp Mill near Prince George in December and January due to lack of economic residual fibre for pulping.
