Kruger says it’s pumping more than $32 million into its Mission Flats pulp mill to improve technology and secure jobs, with Ottawa and Victoria chipping in $5 million apiece.
According to the company, the money will help implement innovative technology, including AI, to expand into fast-growing markets. It will also help to secure the jobs of the mill’s 340 workers.
“Forestry is foundational to B.C. and we’re pleased to partner with Kruger so they can boost their competitiveness, expand into growing markets and support hundreds of good forestry jobs,” said Brenda Bailey, B.C.’s minister of jobs, economic development and innovation.
According to Kruger, the $32.4-million investment will improve the mill’s competitiveness, performance and environmental footprint.
“The federal government is supporting cutting-edge technologies and good jobs in British Columbia’s forestry sector,” said Jonathan Wilkinson, Canada’s minister of energy and natural resources, noting the money will help create and preserve jobs in the region.
“By partnering with provinces, territories and First Nations, we can strengthen and maintain the long-term sustainability of the forest sector.”
The provincial government’s $5-million contribution is being made through the BC Manufacturing Jobs Fund, and Ottawa’s share comes from the federal Investments in Forest Industry Transformation program.
Irene Preto, the mill’s general manager, said she is “very grateful” for the support.
“We’re especially excited to implement an innovative technology that will optimize our manufacturing processes, improve our environmental footprint and reinforce Kruger’s position as a competitive supplier of high-quality, ethically sourced and sustainably sound specialty pulp,” she said.
One of the technological upgrades planned for the mill is a new pulp-washing system, which will help the facility more than double its output of ultra-clean pulp.
“This technology will be combined with advanced controls and AI-based capabilities to endure that the pulp consistently meets the most stringent requirements for specialty products that require ultra-clean pulp,” the company said in a statement.
The new pulp-washing system is expected to be online by 2026.
