Domtar Says Pulp Mill Talks Are Not Dead

Domtar Says Pulp Mill Talks Are Not Dead

Thursday, May 10, 2007 at 14:15

 

 

The fate of a pulp mill and hundreds of jobs in Prince Albert is still up in the air.

 

Domtar, the mill’s owner, says it has not made a final decision about the assets.

 

Officials with the provincial government officials said yesterday that the company planned to dispose of some or all of its assets in Saskatchewan after a deal to reopen the mill failed to materialize.

 

Domtar spokeswoman Bonnie Skene has disputed that claim.

 

She says the most constructive path will focus on discussions on the potential restart of the Prince Albert pulp mill and related facilities.

 

Skene adds no final decisions have been made.

 

The Prince Albert facilities were closed by Weyerhaeuser in April of last year.

 

The province had been working with Domtar since last August on a “comprehensive plan” to reopen the pulp mill and sawmills, and develop new forest products facilities.

 

But Eldon Lautermilch, minister responsible for the forestry secretariat, said yesterday that Domtar has decided not to pursue any opportunities.

 

Lautermilch said the province was unhappy with Domtar’s decision, but would keep working with the company to find a solution to reopen the mill.

 

(courtesy of Broadcast News)