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Paper Excellence shares update on Northern Pulp’s Environmental Assessment Work and cost-saving measures

In its most recent update on Northern Pulp, Paper Excellence shared that the mill has been working in a financially prudent manner. On August 30, 2023, the court extended its CCAA stay period until November 30, 2023.

The company further shared that since June 2020, significant work has been done on the Environmental Assessment, including the Pictou Harbour Characterization, Air Quality, Terrestrial Biology, and Outfall Location studies.

During the last stay period, pulp engineering and design firm KSH Solutions advanced its research into emissions and equipment for the transformed mill. Makai Ocean Engineering completed a preliminary feasibility assessment for constructing a new outfall location. The Northern Pulp team also spent time identifying the relevant studies conducted since 2018 that the mill believes can meet the requirements of the current environmental assessment terms of reference, saving both cost and time.

During this stay period, the mill remain focused on mediation and determining if it can reach a settlement with the Province of Nova Scotia.

The company shared that it cannot provide details of the confidential mediation, but the discussions and outcomes of this stay period will inform Northern Pulp’s ongoing environmental assessment and the likelihood of operating a transformed mill.

The mill is also taking steps to reduce costs, including transitioning all employees to work remotely and reducing power consumption at the mill. These measures will ensure that the mill is financially well-positioned to continue advancing its plans to operate a transformed mill in Nova Scotia if there is a clear path forward from mediation.

Effective Tuesday, September 5, 2023, Northern Pulp’s eighteen employees have transitioned from working at the mill to working remotely. This decision will enable it to temporarily reduce heating and power usage and hibernate all aspects of the mill’s facilities, including offices. The transition to a remote work setup has been successful, says the company in its statement. The mill has worked with each employee to ensure their home office is of equal or greater quality than their previous workspace on-site.

Security will continue monitoring the Northern Pulp site at all times.