Sault Ste. Marie, ON — After taking over St. Marys, the new owners are planning further investment, according to a…
Sault Ste. Marie, ON — After taking over St. Marys, the new owners are planning further investment, according to a Northern Ontario Business report.
Since high energy prices had such a disastrous effect on the mill, the new company president Gord Acton has announced plans for a co-generation plant to produce electricity.
The mill is negotiating with neighbouring Algoma Steel which has already begun building a co-generation facility using off-gases from its coke ovens and blast furnace. While it was planned to use a fluctuating gas cycle, St. Marys plans to contribute wood waste into the mix in a dual-fuel boiler, says NOB.
The next step will be to seek approval from the Ontario Power Authority for a joint venture. If this is not forthcoming, the mill will look into developing its own independent facility.
The mill is still recovering from the former bankruptcy and two-month shutdown that affected its financial status. Cost-saving measure with the cogeneration facility and making saleable by-products, such as a possible packaging product, from pulp and clay residue in its production waste, will help the balance sheet. Good news includes the ironing our of some pension issues with the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada.
Source: Northern Ontario Business, Sudbury, ON, on Sept. 6, 2007
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