The closed Fort Frances pulp mill has been given a reprieve. After discussion between Resolute Forest Products, the Ontario government and Unifor, a union representing paper workers, Resolute has committed to heating the closed mill over the…
The closed Fort Frances pulp mill has been given a reprieve. After discussion between Resolute Forest Products, the Ontario government and Unifor, a union representing paper workers, Resolute has committed to heating the closed mill over the winter in order to protect the equipment.
“We’re very pleased that a short-term solution has been found,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor national president. “Protecting this mill while we determine its future was an essential first step.”
The pulp mill in Fort Frances has been closed for more than a year. However, the union, community and government are exploring options for the mill’s future.
Resolute spokesperson Seth Kursman told CBC News that “critical areas of the mill will be heated.”
Kursman told the broadcaster it has cost Resolute $17.5 million to keep the site “heated and lit” during the last two years while it was in “asset protection mode.”
“At this time, we would like to thank Resolute, a leader in the industry, for their commitment to protecting the mill and its equipment and for their cooperation in ongoing efforts to find a buyer for the mill. We are also grateful to the provincial government for the important role it is playing to secure a future for the mill,” said Dias.
Print this page
