Norske Skog’s operations continue as normal

Since the initiation of the strategic review process in New Zealand in October 2020, a process made necessary by the secular decline of the publication paper industry and the impact of COVID-19, Norske Skog has explored a range of alternatives for the Tasman mill. Following a careful review, this process has resulted in a decision to close the Tasman mill and a sale of the mill’s assets. Production will cease by 30 June 2021, reducing Norske Skog’s newsprint capacity by approximately 150,000 tonnes per annum. The Tasman mill has only produced very limited volumes during 2021. Norske Skog will honour all redundancy and contractual obligations to the mill’s approximately 160 employees as the workforce is progressively reduced during the third quarter. The decision to close the Tasman mill follows a detailed review over the past eight months. It will address the substantial imbalance between newsprint production capacity and customer demand in the Australasian region. The Tasman mill has been an important contributor to the regional economy in New Zealand for the past 66 years, producing more than 15 million tonnes of publication paper over its lifetime. I would like to thank everyone who has worked at the mill for their outstanding contribution throughout the years, and their significant efforts to ensure a long and good life for the mill, says Sven Ombudstvedt, CEO of Norske Skog.

Paper Excellence is pleased to announce that its Prince Albert facility has been granted a softwood fibre allocation of 1,033,564 cubic meters per year by the provincial government. “This fibre is critical to the restart of the Prince Albert pulp mill which is currently planned for the fall of 2023,” said Carlo Dal Monte, Vice President of Energy and Business Development. “This decision reflects the Saskatchewan government’s forward thinking and robust job creation ambitions. They have been terrific to work with—taking a real interest in our project and the Prince Albert community.” Paper Excellence’s Prince Albert team continues to bring better definition to the project in terms of facility equipment. “We remain dedicated to completing the facility’s pre-engineering and filing necessary provincial environmental approvals to achieve our targeted late 2023 restart date,” said Dal Monte. “As with many large projects, we are refining our understanding of the facility’s economics and the needed funding arrangements.”

Irving Pulp & Paper, Limited has submitted a preliminary application to undertake a major upgrade to Saint John's westside pulp mill, representing a new long-term capital improvement plan and a potential $1.1-billion investment. Known as NextGen, the project will increase the mill’s capacity while also increasing the green energy it generates, making it one of the top producing kraft pulp mills in the world and a global leader in environmental performance. An Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) related to the project has been submitted to New Brunswick’s Department of Environment. ​ “These upgrades will ensure Saint John's pulp mill continues to be at the heart of the province's forest products supply chain, and provides a regional market for chips, bark and pulpwood,” said Irving Pulp & Paper Vice President, Mark Mosher.